Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1413

“…Sichuan?”

“Yes?”

Hoga-myung looked at the kneeling figure. His face twisted strangely.

“You said they went to Sichuan?” he asked.

“Yes! The Vice Lord told me to report as soon as the troops arrived,” the man replied.

Hoga-myung was speechless for a moment. He looked up and saw the Wicked Pavillion forces retreating from Nanjing.

In the chaos, Hoga-myung noticed someone. A man stood awkwardly in a broken carriage.

It looked like Jang Il-so. He wore Jang Il-so’s clothes and accessories. He trembled with fear.

Hoga-myung knew who it was. He had created this plan to protect Jang Il-so, using his unique appearance.

– A shadow warrior?

– Yes, Vice Lord. It is necessary.

– Don’t we have the Thousand-Faced Assassin?

– He is hard to control. Please allow this.

– Hmmm, Hoga-myung. You worry too much and do unnecessary things.

– Vice Lord.

– Haa, do what you want. I doubt I’ll need him.

“Ha… Haha…”

Hoga-myung laughed softly. He understood everything now.

“Hahahahahahaha!”

His quiet laughter grew into a loud laugh. It seemed unlike him.

It was just like Jang Il-so. Completely like Jang Il-so.

He twisted what everyone believed. He ignored Hoga-myung’s request. But he used it easily when needed.

It was all so Jang Il-so.

He deceived everyone: the world, the Wicked Pavillion, the Heavenly Union, the Nine Great Sects.

Even Hoga-myung, who was closest to him.

“Haha…”

Hoga-myung stopped laughing and took a deep breath.

‘When did this start?’

Even the Vice Lord couldn’t have known the Heavenly Union would be in Hainan.

From the moment they arrived in Hainan, Jang Il-so had been planning this. Hoga-myung had been chasing them.

In that short time, Jang Il-so had controlled the whole world.

A chill went down his spine. Goosebumps appeared on his skin.

“Did the Vice Lord have another message for me?”

Hoga-myung narrowed his eyes. The kneeling man looked up, as if expecting the question.

“The Vice Lord said the strategist would know what to do. There was no need to say anything specific.”

“…”

“But, he said you would command everyone here as soon as you arrived.”

Hoga-myung laughed. It was just like Jang Il-so.

Hoga-myung shook his head and stared at the Wicked Pavillion’s forces.

“Who is controlling them now?”

“The Vice Lord’s adjutants are following the Vice Lord’s orders from the military strategy division.”

“Where are they?”

“On the left, in the center of the Myriad Man Clan.”

Hoga-myung’s eyes turned cold.

“I’m going there. I need to take control.”

If Jang Il-so wanted to attack Sichuan, Hoga-myung had to stop these forces from going there. He had to tie their feet.

Then, he would go to Sichuan himself.

“Move out, now!”

“Yes, Strategist!”

A strange light appeared in Hoga-myung’s eyes. He couldn’t explain what he felt.

‘Vice Lord.’

Hoga-myung felt uneasy about Mount Hua and the Plum Blossom Sword Demon. He thought Jang Il-so was too nice to the Plum Blossom Sword Demon. He worried that this kindness might hurt the Vice Lord one day.

That’s why he was obsessed with them. He wanted to kill them himself, no matter what.

But even his desperation was just a tool for Jang Il-so. He was a pawn to be used and thrown away.

So…

‘How can I not be in awe?’

How could he not admire someone who could turn him, Shaolin, the Heavenly Union, and Mount Hua into chess pieces?

Even if there were countless people, only Jang Il-so could do this.

Hoga-myung looked up suddenly. The Heavenly Union leaders were there. He had been chasing them.

They were too far to see their faces, but he knew what they looked like.

‘Pitiful.’

They were his enemies, but Hoga-myung felt pity for them.

They made one mistake.

They made Jang Il-so their enemy.

A heavy silence fell.

The Heavenly Union leaders were speechless. They had never felt so lost for words.

“Th-This… this is…”

They couldn’t speak. Their thoughts were confused. They felt only bewilderment and despair.

“W-What does that mean? Jang Il-so isn’t here? Then who is that over there? He’s right there, Jang Il-so!”

Jo Gul shouted, confused. He pointed at the man in red robes in the dust cloud.

“…That’s not Jang Il-so.”

“Who else would dress like that but Jang Il-so…?”

Jo Gul stopped talking. He realized something.

Only one person dressed like that: Jang Il-so.

That’s why it was easy to disguise himself.

If he wore the red robes and makeup, no one would doubt he was Jang Il-so.

Unless they got close, everyone would believe he was Jang Il-so.

The people here were doing just that.

“…Why didn’t we suspect it? Why…”

Baek Cheon bit his lip.

They had seen the carriage and assumed Jang Il-so was here. It was natural. This was the moment the world’s fate would be decided. It was unthinkable for Jang Il-so to leave. At least, it was unthinkable to Baek Cheon.

It wasn’t Baek Cheon’s fault. No one could have imagined this.

Someone screamed.

“Then where is Jang Il-so? Where is he now!”

Everyone felt uneasy.

The Myriad Man Clan had lost many men chasing the Heavenly Union. Jang Il-so never accepted a loss. If he let go of those he had chased, he would want something greater in return.

What could it be?

A prize bigger than crushing the Heavenly Union.

“N-No way. There’s no place with more power than here!”

Everyone nodded at Namgung Dowi’s words.

“Then what is it…?”

A weak voice spoke.

“That’s… that’s not it.”

“Yes?”

Everyone looked at Im So-byeong. He sat with a blank face.

“It’s not something bigger… This place was never a good prize for him.”

“What are you talking about, Green Forest King?”

“…He knew the Justice Faction would cross the river. Even if the Wicked Pavillion gathered, we wouldn’t know who would win. If we win, we gain a lot. But if we lose, it’s over. Even if we win, we will be badly hurt.”

Hyun Jong nodded.

The righteous faction was strong. With Shaolin, Peng Clan, and Mount Kunlun, they were a force the Wicked Pavillion couldn’t ignore.

“But… he didn’t want that fight.”

“…Yes?”

“Because that’s who he is! He laughs at taking the hard path when there’s easy prey. He saw things he could eat without fighting! Weak targets he could crush!”

Resentment was on Im So-byeong’s face.

This wasn’t just being outsmarted by Hoga-myung. Jang Il-so hadn’t even cared about Im So-byeong’s plans. Im So-byeong was just a chess piece.

Despair washed over him. He felt powerless.

“Wh-Where is it, then?”

“…Sichuan.”

“Yes?”

“Qingcheng! It’s Sichuan. He’s attacking Qingcheng with his hidden forces and the Hao Clan. Qingcheng is one of the Nine Great Sects, and they aren’t ready for war!”

Everyone paled. Im So-byeong said,

“He’ll burn down Emei, which is next to it. If he crushes Qingcheng, Emei will fight alone. With the Myriad Man Clan and the Hao Clan, he can take Qingcheng and Emei easily.”

A deep silence fell.

Im So-byeong thought of everything.

The hard trip from Hainan, the desperate fight to survive.

It was just a rat hunt for Jang Il-so. While everyone watched the rat hunt, Jang Il-so had walked into the righteous sects’ home.

“We were tricked. Completely tricked…”

Then, someone spoke quietly.

“Next?”

“…Yes?”

Yoo I-seol looked at Im So-byeong with a blank face.

“Qingcheng, Emei. What’s next?”

“Next…”

Im So-byeong turned his head slowly. Everyone looked at one place.