Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1458

Tall mountains reached up to the cloudy sky. Everywhere you looked, the scenery was beautiful. Jagged peaks of rock stabbed at the sky, like giant teeth. The wind whispered around the sharp edges, and the air was thin and cold, even in the sun. A man stood silently, looking at the mountains called Tianzi Mountain.

He stared at one tall peak that went right through the clouds.

Mountains going above the clouds were not unusual. But this peak was different. Its top was sharp, like a spear pointing up to the sky.

Because of this, some people called this place another name. They said it was where the earth, pushed down by the heavens, had raised its sword in anger. A land of rebellion.

Against the beautiful scenery of Zhangjiajie, the adjutants watched Ho Gamyung, their faces showing worry.

“Why… why has he set up camp here?”

“Indeed.”

After the fight in Nanjing, Ho Gamyung had been moving towards Sichuan, but when he reached Zhangjiajie, he stopped. He didn’t just stop, he started to put troops in place.

Of course, taking a short rest was not a problem. Arranging the troops even while resting was a good thing, not something to be suspicious about.

But, it was strange that they had been camped here for a whole day. It wasn’t a long time, but in their situation, even a short time was very important. And they were wasting that time here in Zhangjiajie.

“Shouldn’t we be getting to Sichuan as quickly as possible?”

“Of course, we should. The Lord is in Sichuan and Yunnan…”

The adjutants looked at each other. No matter how they saw it, getting to Sichuan quickly should be the most important thing, and Ho Gamyung, as a strategist, must know that. That was the problem.

So why was Ho Gamyung wasting time in a place like this?

One of them looked at Ho Gamyung’s back with worried eyes and started to speak, his lips trembling slightly.

“Perhaps…”

“If you can’t handle it, be quiet.”

The words stopped suddenly.

Gulp.

Someone swallowed hard, showing the tension in the air.

‘The Strategist…’

They all knew. They were adjutants who helped the strategist.

Ho Gamyung was not just a simple strategist. He now had military power equal to half of the Four Factions Alliance.

Of course, military power in the Jianghu did not mean absolute command like in the military.

But the adjutants, who had seen many things happen in the Demonic Sect, couldn’t help but think of one particular idea.

One of the adjutants, who had been watching closely, spoke as if he had made a decision.

“That can’t be. What kind of person do you think the Strategist is?”

“Of course, that’s probably true. But… the important thing isn’t that.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

The adjutants all stopped talking again.

Of course, they knew. No one had different plans from the start. What he had shown so far didn’t matter. The important thing was what he chose to do at that moment. Only that.

“And… you all know, don’t you?”

No one answered. But everyone knew.

What Ho Gamyung had gone through from Hainan to here. And what answer Jang Il-So had given to Ho Gamyung’s desperate efforts.

What would they do?

Could they really trust and follow Jang Il-So as strongly as before, even after all that? Even after realizing that Ho Gamyung could also be used and thrown away at any time?

If it were them…

“Don’t think about it.”

Strategists always think about what could happen next when they learn something new. Just as they were about to start thinking, someone stopped them roughly.

“There’s no point in us talking about it ourselves. If there’s something we don’t understand, we can just ask the Strategist directly.”

The one who spoke took a step forward. The others followed him towards Ho Gamyung, feeling like they were being pushed.

Even though it wasn’t a long distance, it felt like a thousand miles to them.

Soon, they reached Ho Gamyung and looked at each other. After a quick look, one adjutant spoke with effort.

“Um… Strategist.”

“…”

“Aren’t we going to Sichuan?”

There was no reply. Ho Gamyung simply stared at the peak, silently, as he had from the beginning. The adjutants’ faces became more and more tense.

Could it be that Ho Gamyung really…

“If we don’t go?”

At that moment, a question that seemed to cut to their core came from Ho Gamyung’s lips.

“Yes?”

“If we don’t go, what will you do?”

Ho Gamyung slowly turned to look at them. His face was like stone, showing no feeling at all, and the adjutants trembled. A cold look swept over them. His eyes, without any human emotion, gave them a feeling of pressure and tension.

“Answer me.”

The adjutants swallowed hard.

The one who had been given the power to control half of the Four Factions Alliance was refusing to join the Lord. Could that mean anything other than two things?

One of them, seeing the cold look in Ho Gamyung’s eyes, spoke with a trembling voice.

“S-Strategist. How could you…”

“I’ll ask again.”

“…”

“If I don’t move from here, if I don’t plan to go to Sichuan, what will you do?”

The question was a little clearer than the first one. If they weren’t fools, they would know what it meant. Especially if they were strategists who decided the fate of an army.

‘Is he, is he really…’

It felt like the blood in their bodies was turning cold.

They had never thought about it. They couldn’t have thought about it. But now that the question had been asked, now that they had heard these words, they had to make a decision.

Whichever side they chose, they had to risk their lives.

What should they do?

In the middle of the confusion, one person knelt down.

“I will simply follow the Strategist.”

Ho Gamyung’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Follow me…? What does that mean?”

“J-Just as I said! If the Strategist has made up his mind, I will simply follow, no matter what it is.”

It was a clever answer. A strange silence fell. Everyone focused on Ho Gamyung, without moving.

And then, a rare smile appeared on Ho Gamyung’s lips.

“Not a bad answer.”

A chill went down the adjutants’ spines. Did those words show what Ho Gamyung was thinking?

‘Could it really be that the Strategist…?’

It was hard to believe. But now was not the time to find an answer. Wouldn’t their lives be in danger the longer it took to answer?

“I, I…”

Just as one of the adjutants was about to speak…

“Strategist!”

Someone shouted loudly.

“L-Lord! The Lord is coming!”

“What?”

The adjutants, with wide eyes, screamed in confusion. The Lord meant Jang Il-So. But why would Jang Il-So come here?

Had Ho Gamyung told him separately?

“No, never. They haven’t left Hoga-myung’s side for a single moment during their journey from Nanjing city. But how did the Lord know we were coming here?”

“Wh-what are you saying! The Lord is coming here! That’s absurd!”

“Th-there they are!”

The officials looked around, their eyes darting nervously. A group was indeed approaching. As they got closer, the red and gold colours of their banners became distinct.

A groan escaped.

“L-Lord…”

It could be none other than Jang Il-so.

Of course, it had already been proven in Nanjing that Jang Il-so wasn’t the only one who could wear such clothes, but who in the world would be so bold as to copy Jang Il-so without permission in a place where the Wicked Moon Sect was in charge?

The officials looked at Hoga-myung, their faces bewildered.

“Strategist… the Lord…”

If they hadn’t just heard the words they shouldn’t have from Hoga-myung, perhaps they might have welcomed this situation. But not now. Great confusion swept over them.

Hoga-myung, however, stared at the approaching Jang Il-so with eyes that showed no particular emotion.

“You’ve arrived just in time.”

“……”

“I ask you, whose orders do you follow?”

“……th-the Strategist?”

“Answer.”

The officials quickly exchanged glances. But the answer they had to give, and could give, was already decided.

“Of course… the Strategist’s orders.”

“Then that’s settled.”

Hoga-myung slowly moved forward to greet Jang Il-so.

‘Could it be…?’

The officials watched the scene, barely able to breathe.

The difference in military strength was obvious. Those led by Jang Il-so were all elites, but their numbers were few.

On the other hand, the military strength here, which included the Black Demon Squad, the remaining Myriad Clan, and the minor and medium-sized sects gathered in Nanjing, was vast enough to overwhelm those led by Jang Il-so in numbers.

Gulp.

Someone swallowed hard. It wouldn’t happen, but what if… just what if Hoga-myung made up his mind?

What would happen then?

Thud. Thud.

Hoga-myung stopped a few steps away.

Jang Il-so, who had approached slowly, also stopped a good distance from Hoga-myung.

In the silence, Jang Il-so’s eyes stared at Hoga-myung and those behind him. Strangely enough, those standing there were positioned as if they were aiming at him.

As if they could attack at any moment if the order was given.

Jang Il-so’s gaze briefly touched the peaks that seemed to pierce the sky, and then returned to Hoga-myung. To Hoga-myung, who was facing him with an expression that revealed nothing of what he was thinking.

“Tell me, Ga-myung.”

Jang Il-so glared at Hoga-myung with chilling eyes.

“Why didn’t you come to Sichuan?”

Hoga-myung simply faced Jang Il-so without answering. Then Jang Il-so’s face twisted slightly.

“Can’t you hear me?”

“You ask why?” Hoga-myung finally answered in a stiff voice.

“It’s a bit late for that, Lord.”

“Hmm?”

“Is there a need for me to tell you the reason? You must already have guessed. Wasn’t it the same before?”

“……”

“No matter how I act, you will use me accordingly, won’t you? Then is there really a need for a report?”

At Hoga-myung’s answer, the corners of Jang Il-so’s mouth twisted sharply.

“Is that… your answer?”

“Is that not allowed?”

Hoga-myung looked at Jang Il-so with emotionless eyes.

A tense atmosphere filled the air.

Those watching Hoga-myung from directly behind trembled, unable to breathe. It felt as if a sharp scream would break the silence at any moment and shatter everything they knew.

And at that very moment…

“Ugh…”

A groan leaked from Jang Il-so’s mouth.

“It’s not that it’s not allowed, but you should still report. What’s so bothersome about it?”

Jang Il-so shook his head, grumbling somewhat exaggeratedly.

The officials were momentarily stunned by the action that was completely out of place for the situation. Hoga-myung’s mouth opened calmly.

“I expected you would come anyway.”

“Tsk tsk. Whether you lack flexibility or have too much of it, it’s still a problem.”

“One moment.”

“Hmm?”

At that moment, Hoga-myung, after briefly asking for understanding, turned to the official who had been the first to say he would follow him. The official’s face turned pale as he was met with Hoga-myung’s cold gaze. He, too, had sensed his fate.

“St-Strategist!”

Wham!

The force unleashed by Hoga-myung mercilessly severed the official’s neck. Red blood sprayed from the cross-section in all directions.

Jang Il-so frowned.

“Tsk. That’s a bit much for celebratory fireworks.”

“I apologize. It’s just…”

“It’s fine. You must have a reason.”

Jang Il-so waved his hand dismissively.

Originally, it was something that should never be allowed. No one in the world could dare to do such a thing in front of Jang Il-so. Jang Il-so, too, would never tolerate it.

But if the one who did it was Hoga-myung, the story was different.

He didn’t even ask for the reason. If the one who committed this rudeness was Hoga-myung, that is. Only Hoga-myung could do such a thing in front of Jang Il-so.

“Strategist Hoga-myung, greets the Lord.”

Hoga-myung knelt on one knee and bowed deeply.

At that moment, everyone in this place realized who stood before them, who was the true master of this Wicked Moon Sect. Everyone belonging to the Wicked Moon Sect stationed behind Hoga-myung knelt towards Jang Il-so.

“We greet the Lord!”

It was a tremendous voice that seemed to shake the earth.

Jang Il-so smiled slightly at the sight and approached Hoga-myung. And as soon as he reached close, he firmly grabbed Hoga-myung’s shoulder.

“You seem to have quite a bit of unhappiness inside. You’re doing things you never used to do.”

“May I speak my mind?”

“Ugh. No, it’s fine. If I did, I’d have to listen for three days and nights. Just bury it forever.”

Jang Il-so’s gaze briefly touched the corpse of the one who had died and lay sprawled out. A sneer formed on his red lips.

“One must dream according to one’s place.”

His low voice coldly cut through the world filled with heat.