Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1464

Seok Hong stopped at the edge of Chengdu. “No…” he breathed, his face turning white. The city was a mess. Buildings were broken, and smoke still rose in the air. He had heard the news, but seeing it now… it was worse than he imagined. “Those fools…” he muttered, his hands clenching.

His fingertips trembled with rage. He barely glanced at the bodies scattered on the ground. They were just foot soldiers, easily replaced. What angered him more was the insult to their power. *Their* city, the city they had taken over, had been attacked and damaged by the Cheonwu Alliance.

“L, Lord Daeju!”

A few survivors from the Maninbang stumbled towards him, barely alive. Seok Hong’s eyes flashed with a dangerous red light, like hot coals suddenly exposed. “Where are those bastards?” he growled.

“T-they left a long time ago…” one whispered, shaking.

“Chase?”

His men lowered their heads, silent. Seok Hong’s face twisted in fury. “You didn’t even try to chase them? What were you doing, hiding like scared rabbits?”

“Chase them? No use,” the subordinate stammered. “It was the Cheonwu Alliance! Big names, even Chung Myung himself… we’d never catch them.”

“This…” Seok Hong hissed, grinding his teeth. A harsh grinding sound came from his clenched jaw, like stones scraping together. The men flinched, bowing low to the ground.

“So? You just let them go? Didn’t even fight back? You call yourselves Maninbang disciples? You’re weaker than rats!”

“It was… too strong for us…”

“Too strong?” Seok Hong repeated, his voice dangerously quiet.

“But… they didn’t take much treasure,” another man dared to say. “Since there were so few of them…”

“What did you say?” Seok Hong’s voice was like ice.

“…Yes?” The man looked up, confused.

Seok Hong glared at him, his face rigid with rage. “Are you saying they even stole from Chengdu’s wealth?”

“W-well, yes, a little…”

“What about the Sahae Merchant Guild? Danju ordered you to guard them! What happened to those Sahae Merchant Guild bastards?”

The men’s faces turned as white as ghosts.

“Answer me! What happened to the Sahae Merchant Guild?” Seok Hong roared.

“T-the Cheonwu Alliance… they took them all…”

*Paaah!*

A flash of energy, fast as lightning, ripped through the man who had spoken. Blood sprayed out in a gruesome fountain, staining the dusty street red. The body fell in two pieces before it even hit the ground.

*Eudeudeudeuk.*

Seok Hong ground his teeth, red veins bulging in his eyes. “Those damn Cheonwu Alliance bastards! Aargh!” His roar of rage echoed through the broken city of Chengdu.

Inside a tent so luxurious it was hard to believe it was temporary, Ho Gamyeong stared at Jang Il-so, who was seated on a large chair covered with tiger skin. Jang Il-so’s face, his eyes closed, was clearly hardened. It wasn’t a subtle change that only Ho Gamyeong could notice. It was so obvious that anyone could tell.

It was rare indeed for Jang Il-so to show such an expression to others.

“…Lord Lyeonju.”

Ho Gamyeong broke the long silence and spoke.

“We have mobilized as many people as possible and sent them to Chengdu, so we will be able to suppress them soon. Please do not worry too much.”

But Ho Gamyeong thought the words he had uttered were quite ridiculous. What difference would gathering troops make? Those bastards would surely ravage Chengdu and retreat before the reinforcements Ho Gamyeong sent even arrived.

‘Bloody hell.’

Neither Jang Il-so nor Ho Gamyeong were fools. They had long considered the possibility that enemies would target Chengdu, which had a gap in its defenses.

However, what they hadn’t anticipated was not the enemy’s attack, but the composition of those who attacked. No one in the world could have imagined such a small, elite force.

‘Cheonwu Alliance.’

Some might not think it was a big deal. They didn’t retake Chengdu, but merely broke into a house where the owner was away and smashed things up.

But Ho Gamyeong didn’t see it that way.

The scars they had carved into the Four Evil Sects by tearing through Chengdu were larger and more fatal than one might think.

What difference would it make if the Four Evil Sects took control of Sichuan?

Taking control of Sichuan wouldn’t make the Four Evil Sects any stronger. Nor were the Four Evil Sects so impoverished that they immediately needed the resources of Sichuan.

Nevertheless, the reason why that fact sent a warning to the world was because it was proof that the power of the Four Evil Sects was strong enough to trample and seize Sichuan.

Sometimes, appearances are more important than actual power. By taking control of Sichuan, the Four Evil Sects gained far more than just defeating Mount Emei, Qingcheng, and Jeomcang.

But now, due to the move made by the Cheonwu Alliance, a part of the tower they had painstakingly built had been brutally destroyed.

Those who saw them rampaging in Chengdu would begin to think. The Four Evil Sects may have the power to trample Sichuan, but they don’t have the power to protect it.

“Hoo.”

A sigh escaped Ho Gamyeong’s lips. Now was not the time to be thinking about this.

“Lord Lyeonju. If you are worried, I will lead the troops and go to Chengdu. Then… ….”

At that moment, Jang Il-so opened his eyes.

Ho Gamyeong flinched without realizing it. The look in Jang Il-so’s eyes, revealed for a moment, was so cold that even he, who had been with him for so long, felt intimidated.

“What’s lost is lost. Crying over spilled milk won’t bring the dead back to life.”

Ho Gamyeong was well aware of that fact. But… ….

“Even so, it won’t be meaningless.”

“Hmm.”

A short hum escaped Jang Il-so’s lips. Not the usual dreamy hum, but a heavy hum that made the listener feel suffocated.

“Your senses have dulled, Gamyeong.”

“…Yes?”

“What we lost by being attacked in Chengdu is more than you think. The Nine Sects and the Cheonwu Alliance both have something to say about this incident. And those bastards are the kind who can use that fact to their advantage. A sip of water may not seem like much, but if the one who gets that water is dying of thirst, it’s the same as changing their fate.”

Ho Gamyeong’s face hardened. It seemed that Jang Il-so was taking this situation more seriously than he thought.

“In that case, Lord Lyeonju. Should we… ….”

“However!”

At that moment, a strong and resolute voice burst from Jang Il-so’s lips. It was a chilling voice that sent shivers down one’s spine.

“If we lost it, we just have to find it again. That kind of thing isn’t important. What’s really important is something else.”

Ho Gamyeong’s eyes filled with questions. Jang Il-so’s voice sank low.

“What has changed?”

Wrinkles formed on his pale brow.

Unbelievable! Those weaklings from before would never have even thought about coming to Chengdu. If they had, they would have brought every useless person they could find and cried like babies.

Silence filled the room.

So what has changed that they are brave enough to come to Chengdu now? Have I completely misjudged these Heavenly Union people?

Hoga Myung finally understood what Jang Il-So was saying. It was a very important idea. Failure hurts, yes. But fixing that failure is even more important. However, in the long run, failures and losses are small things. What truly matters is *why* it happened. You must understand the reason, so you don’t repeat the same mistake.

Maybe… maybe they care about the Tang Family’s Chengdu more than we thought? Or maybe there’s something hidden on the Tang Family’s land that we don’t know about…

Jang Il-So didn’t answer. Usually, if Hoga Myung said something Jang Il-So disagreed with, Jang Il-So would have laughed or made a joke. But not now. Now, Jang Il-So ignored Hoga Myung’s words as if they were nothing, like stepping on ants. Wasn’t that proof? Proof that Jang Il-So’s thoughts and feelings were much bigger, much more important, than Hoga Myung could even guess?

Money… Power… Plans… What they want…

Jang Il-So murmured slowly. “Is that… is that what explains this?”

Myung.

Yes, Leader.

This… this is a first.

What is, sir?

Jang Il-So’s voice was harsh, like metal scraping on stone. “To feel like someone is playing me for a fool… right in front of my face.”

So, this is what it feels like… to have your guts twisted into knots.

A wave of anger seemed to rise from Jang Il-So, making his face go dark. It was like a dark cloud spreading across his features. You could almost feel the danger coming off him in waves.

Hoga Myung just couldn’t understand. They had won! The Wicked Faction had achieved huge victories! Even if the attack on Chengdu was a blow, it didn’t change the fact that they, Jang Il-So and the Wicked Faction, were the winners of this whole war. People would hate Jang Il-So, yes, but they would also praise him. So why? Why was Jang Il-So so angry about this one small thing, instead of celebrating the great victory?

A harsh, dry laugh escaped Jang Il-So’s lips. “Haha.”

Crack! The sound was sharp and sudden. The armrest of the chair, crushed in Jang Il-So’s grip, splintered and cracked. At the same moment, the tiger skin covering the chair ripped with a tearing sound and fell to the floor like a defeated animal.

It’s unbearable, Myung. Just the thought of that… that *man* laughing because he won against me… it feels like knives twisting in my stomach.

Leader…

Hoga Myung started to say, but stopped. *Snap.* A sudden, sharp sound. A thin line of bright red blood trickled from the corner of Jang Il-So’s lips, which were pressed so tightly together they were almost white. Then, as if the blood itself made them darker, his lips seemed to deepen to a bruised red. And Jang Il-So’s eyes, those usually greasy, watchful eyes, twisted with a sudden, furious rage.

The Mount Hua Sword Saint…

It wasn’t just a thought; it was like a vision, sharp and clear in his mind. He could see the Mount Hua Sword Saint’s face, right there in front of him, mocking him with a cruel smile. He could see the scorn burning in those eyes.

Mount Hua Sword Saint.

The name was wrenched from Jang Il-So’s throat, not spoken, but forced out like a strangled cry of pure, burning hatred.

A giggle escaped Chung Myung, soft and high-pitched. “Hee hee hee.” Silence answered him. Then, louder, a string of giggles: “Hee hee hee hee hee hee.” Still silence. Finally, a burst of unrestrained laughter: “Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee!” The men pulling the heavy cart didn’t react. They just kept walking, their eyes blank and unfocused, staring straight ahead as if they didn’t even see the figure perched on top of the treasure. Chung Myung, oblivious, continued to laugh, his eyes fixed on the glittering gold. “Hee hee hee hee! Shiny! So shiny! Hee hee hee hee! Shiny shiny!”

Jo Woong, the eldest son of the powerful Four Seas Commerce Guild, walked slowly beside the cart, his brow furrowed. He leaned closer to his younger brother, Jo Gul, and asked quietly, “Um… Gul? Sorry, but… I have to ask again. Just to be absolutely sure… that person up there… that’s really…?”

Jo Gul just nodded once, firmly. “That’s him.”

Jo Woong swallowed hard. “No… it’s not that I don’t trust you, Gul, it’s just… it’s just… *him*? Really?”

Jo Gul sighed, but his voice was patient. “Yes, Brother, really. I’m telling you, it’s him! That *human* is… Mount Hua’s greatest expert.”

Then, one of the Five Swords, who had been silent until now, spoke hesitantly, as if still unsure of what he was seeing. “They say… they say he’s the best of the younger generation.” Another of the Five Swords nodded slowly, adding, “The Chief Strategist of the Heavenly Union, yes.” A third one murmured, almost to himself, “The one… the one the Wicked Faction is most afraid of…”

Jo Woong stared. Chung Myung, perched like a magpie on top of the glittering mountain of treasure, was now scooping up handfuls of small gold ornaments and throwing them into the air, letting them rain down around him. “Hee hee hee hee hee hee! Money! Money! Money! What a lucky day!” Jo Woong’s hand, hidden in his sleeve, trembled slightly. *That*? *That* was the Mount Hua Sword Saint? That… *thing*… could he even call it a human being?

Could he be…?

Jo Gul cut him off. “He’s a Taoist. Yes, that’s what he is.”

So, is he…?

Jo Gul nodded, as if this explained everything. “Yes. He’s always like this. He’s not… he’s not gone mad or anything.”

Jo Woong was completely silent, staring. Even the Five Swords exchanged glances and nodded towards Chung Myung, as if they were actually relieved. “He’s… he’s actually quite calm today,” one of them said. “Yeah,” another agreed. “Even if he doesn’t say it, you can tell he’s happy about what happened in Chengdu. If he’d had this much money when he was annoyed, he’d probably be swimming in it right now.” “Definitely,” a third one chuckled. Jo Woong’s eyes blinked, then blinked again, rapidly. Jo Gul just shrugged, as if to say, ‘See? What did I tell you?’ and turned to his older brother.

Don’t worry, Brother,

Jo Gul said, smiling brightly. “Huh? What do you mean?”

Jo Woong asked, confused. Jo Gul’s smile widened. “He might look like *that*, but he’s more reliable than you could ever imagine.” From the cart, Chung Myung’s laughter echoed: “Hee hee hee hee hee hee!” Jo Gul continued, his voice earnest, “He’s completely dependable, and surprisingly serious when he needs to be.” More laughter from Chung Myung, louder this time: “Hahaha hahaha hahaha!” Jo Gul finished, “I’m learning so much from him. He’s someone who will always be there for you, someone you can trust with everything. Just… just watch him, Brother.”

Money! Money! Free money!

Chung Myung yelled from the cart, scattering more gold. Jo Woong looked from his smiling, confident younger brother to the figure on the cart, who was still laughing and shouting about money like a madman. And suddenly, tears welled up in Jo Woong’s eyes. “Gul…” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. *What kind of battles have you been fighting, Gul? What have you had to endure?* For the first time, a sharp pang of regret pierced Jo Woong’s heart. He regretted, deeply, sending his younger brother to Mount Hua.