Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1465

“To look at it coldly, it’s hard to say we’ve gained a great advantage, but we should see that we’ve achieved our initial objective.”

“Hee hee hee hee.”

“But the situation is still not easy. Of course not. It’s not like we’ve really damaged their forces, have we?”

“Ee hee hee!”

“So, from now on, what’s important is to quickly⋯⋯.”

“Ehehehehehe!”

“Oh, come on!”

Im So-byeong rarely showed such real irritation.

“Are riches important right now?”

“What?”

“What did you say?”

Im So-byeong flinched at the sudden outburst.

But what really made him flinch wasn’t Cheong-myeong, who was rolling his eyes over the pile of riches. It was Tang Gunak, who was pulling the cart loaded with the treasure, glaring with bloodshot eyes.

“No, why are you again⋯⋯.”

“That mere treasure?”

“I didn’t say ‘mere’ though⋯⋯.”

Tang Gunak’s hand twitched. Cheong-myeong said nonchalantly.

“Leave him be. What would a Shadow Clan guy know?” (Shadow Clans were groups known for their unconventional and sometimes feared practices).

“I guess so. I understand.”

“⋯⋯Dirty Noble Order bastards.”

The label was scary.

“And it’s not just treasure. It’s true that we lack military funds.”

“No, will a few carts like this solve that?”

“Th, that⋯⋯. Thinking only about one big score? That’s why you live like bandits! Honestly, those Shadow Clan guys are⋯⋯.”

“Kkeueu⋯⋯.”

Im So-byeong gripped his neck with a face full of resentment. Then, Maeng So approached and patted him on the shoulder.

“G, Governor.”

Tears welled up in Im So-byeong’s eyes.

“Cheer up.”

“As expected⋯⋯. The Governor understands the feeling of being discriminated against because he’s from the frontier.”

“Hmm? I’m from the frontier, but I’m not from the Shadow Clan? It’s right not to associate with Shadow Clan guys.”

“⋯⋯.”

“I just thought you looked so weak and pathetic.”

⋯⋯Damn barbarian bastards. Im So-byeong, clearing his throat and trying to calm down, turned his head and shouted to Cheong-myeong.

“I get it, so come down already!”

“Aww, really.”

Cheong-myeong grumbled and jumped off the cart. Even then, he glanced at the treasure on the cart with a look of regret and smacked his lips.

“No, why are you so obsessed with that when you have so much money?”

“So much money? What are you talking about? Hwasan has a lot of money, not me.”

“Hmm? No, in the Plum Blossom Sword Formation deal, you secretly pocketed⋯⋯.”

At that moment, terrifying murderous intent poured out towards Im So-byeong. Cheong-myeong asked with a bright smile.

“Huh? Money? What are you talking about?”

Instantly, sweat streamed down Im So-byeong’s face.

“Th, that’s not it. I, I must have been mistaken.”

“Haha! Right? I’m actually a very virtuous Taoist, you know. There’s no way I’d hide something like treasure, right? Hahaha!” (A follower of the Tao, a path of balance and virtue).

Those who watched the scene smiled contentedly.

‘He pocketed it.’

‘He pocketed a lot.’

‘How much did that crazy bastard skim off?’

‘I should tell the Sect Leader.’

Cheong-myeong, patting Im So-byeong on the shoulder, looked around with an awkward face.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“The opposite. What are you going to do now?”

“Huh?”

“Aren’t you the commander? You need to give us instructions. You’re not in a position to just stand there and giggle like the old days.”

“Tsk, annoying⋯⋯.”

Cheong-myeong scanned everyone and opened his mouth.

“First of all⋯⋯.”

Everyone stared at him with nervous eyes.

“We need to go to Shaanxi.”

“Whew.”

“Haa⋯⋯.”

At those words, sighs of relief leaked out from here and there. It was such an obvious thing, but because the one giving the instructions was such an unpredictable person, they were secretly worried that he might say something else absurd.

“Why? Did you think I was going to say we should go and take Jang Il-so’s head right away?”

“⋯⋯Honestly, I can’t say I didn’t.”

“No, do I look like such a crazy bastard to you?”

“Yes.”

“You do.”

“Yeah.”

“Geez⋯⋯.”

Cheong-myeong distorted his face, but the reactions of the others were calm. It wasn’t like he was saying something that wasn’t true.

“I might really do it.”

Cheong-myeong muttered, and everyone avoided his gaze. Adding unnecessary words would only provoke his anger. Cheong-myeong sighed.

“Of course, I’d love to take Jang Il-so’s head, but it’s not the right situation yet.”

“Good judgment.”

Tang Gunak nodded greatly. What they needed now was stability, not profit.

“But well⋯⋯ it’s not like we’re just going to go.”

“What, what are you going to do again⋯⋯.”

“No. I’m just saying we should do some things in advance before we arrive.”

Cheong-myeong grinned.

“First of all, that⋯⋯. Hmm, Clan Leader.”

“Speak.”

“I think we need to call the Beggars’ Sect guys?”

Everyone looked at Cheong-myeong with puzzled eyes.

“Didn’t the Beggars’ Sect see enough of the situation and leave?”

They had encountered the beggars of the Beggars’ Sect several times while coming here. Even if the Demonic Alliance had occupied Sichuan, they wouldn’t have been able to drive out all the beggars right away, so it was natural.

“Wasn’t that why you deliberately sat on that hard treasure and acted so exaggeratedly frivolous? To show off to the Beggars’ Sect?”

“Th, that’s right. Yes, yes. That’s it! Haha. You know me well.”

An awkward silence briefly settled. As Tang Gunak’s eyes began to narrow, Cheong-myeong quickly changed the subject.

“Ah, anyway, enough about that! That’s not enough. This time, those guys will never spread our achievements.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the Chief will stop them, screaming.”

“Hmm⋯⋯.”

Ten days ago, Tang Gunak might have asked, ‘Would the Chief really go that far?’ But now, he didn’t even question it. He knew better.

Now, the relationship between the Heavenly Union and the Nine Great Sects had become irreversible.

“So, we need someone who will speak up even if the Chief stops them. It would be good if we could contact that Elder beggar, but that won’t be easy, so we need to deliver it to someone easy to handle first. Then they’ll take care of it.”

“Are you talking about Hong, the Branch Leader?”

“He’s a strange guy who has no ability but seems to have ability. He’s the perfect person to get excited and run wild at times like this.”

Tang Gunak nodded. Besides, Hong Dae-kwang was the only person in the Beggars’ Sect who they could be sure was on the Heavenly Union’s side.

“But will that be possible? If what you say is true, the Beggars’ Sect will likely decide not to publicize what we’ve done. Hong, the Branch Leader, is still part of the Beggars’ Sect. Can he refuse the order?”

“Who’s giving that order?”

“That’s obviously⋯⋯.”

Tang Gunak closed his mouth. The Beggars’ Sect’s orders were naturally given by the Sect Leader. But⋯⋯.

‘When was the last time I heard news of the Beggars’ Sect Leader?’

The current Beggars’ Sect Leader was as good as nonexistent. When you think about it, the fact that the Elder of the Beggars’ Sect rebelled against the Beggars’ Sect’s ways during the Plum Blossom Sword Formation incident was also possible because of this situation.

“That guy doesn’t look like much, but he’s a candidate for Sect Leader. The only person who can suppress someone like that with authority is the Sect Leader, but the current Sect Leader is ailing.”

“I see. So, you’re saying you’ll use the Sect Leader’s absence to move a part of the Beggars’ Sect.”

“No?”

“⋯⋯Huh? No?”

Tang Gunak looked at Cheong-myeong with a bewildered expression. Cheong-myeong grinned.

“Hey. If I was going to end it with just that, I wouldn’t have even started.”

The look in his eyes hidden in his smile was extremely cold.

“In times like these, shouldn’t they also choose their side well? I’m going to make them decide soon.”

Countless thoughts swirled in Tang Gunak’s head for a moment. But he soon scattered them all. Now, Cheong-myeong was making the decisions. He just had to follow.

“I understand. If there’s something I need to do, I’ll do it.”

“Yes. And⋯⋯.”

Cheong-myeong turned his gaze to Jo Woong this time.

“The Saha Assembly also needs to earn their keep.”

“⋯⋯Are you talking about us?”

“Well, when you think about it, merchants and beggars are similar.”

“Huh? Are m, merchants and beggars si, similar?”

Jo Woong looked at Cheong-myeong with eyes that said, ‘Seriously, what kind of crazy person is this?’

“Hey, Cheong-myeong. That’s a bit much. Aren’t merchants and beggars the most different people?”

“What’s different? They’re similar. They’re most common in cities where a lot of money circulates, they appear wherever there are a lot of people, the successful ones open branches in each city, and they make a living by talking to people. It’s the same.”

“⋯⋯Huh? Now that I hear it?”

“What do you mean, ‘Now that I hear it!’ It’s utter nonsense! The amount of money they have is different! The amount of money!”

Jo Gul shouted with fire in his eyes. There was no tricky words like this.

“Tsk tsk. Trying to distinguish people by money, and that’s a Taoist. It’s the end of the world.”

“Kkeu, kkeueu⋯⋯.”

As Jo Gul was about to foam at the mouth and pass out, Yoon Jong approached and patted him on the shoulder, saying.

“Calm down. It doesn’t seem like he’s wrong.”

⋯⋯Maybe this guy is the worst of them all.

“Anyway, the merchant circles are also closely connected. The Saha Assembly has established sales routes to major merchant groups in the Central Plains through the tea trade.”

“That’s true, but⋯⋯.”

“Just deliver it all to them. Tell them that the Saha Assembly escaped from Sichuan with the help of the Heavenly Union. And add a few things I say.”

Cheong-myeong grinned.

“The Chief can shut the mouths of the beggars, but he can’t tell the merchants to shut their mouths. He’s still a monk, he has his pride.”

“Ah⋯⋯.”

The sect leaders looked at Cheong-myeong with surprised eyes.

It was true that the influence of the Nine Great Sects was significant, but the merchant world was outside that influence. Even if they tried to control it, it would only affect the flow of money, and they wouldn’t be able to shut their mouths.

The Eunha Merchant Group could also spread the word, but the level of impact would be different. All the merchants in the world would be paying attention to the situation in Sichuan, and among them, the Saha Assembly, which was the only one to escape from Chengdu, would send letters?

‘There’s no need to even ask them to spread the word.’

As soon as the letters arrived, the world would know the situation in Chengdu in less than three days.

“You, did you do this on purpose⋯⋯?”

“Ehehey! It’s all in one go! All in one go! I’m still a Taoist!”

“⋯⋯That’s⋯⋯right.”

No. It should be.

“But⋯⋯ what are you trying to do by spreading all this?”

“Divide them.”

Cheong-myeong grinned.

“They’re trying to divide us now.”

“That’s right. We’re in a position to stop that.”

“Why?”

“Huh?”

“Tsk tsk. That’s why you can’t make money. You shouldn’t try to stop something from splitting in the first place. What’s important is for us to take a bigger bite.”

“Huh?”

“We’ve been frustrated with alliances and whatnot anyway, so we can just clean it all up with this opportunity.”

Cheong-myeong smiled slyly as he looked west.

“I’m not good at setting up the board, but I’m an expert at running wild on a set board.”

In the past, Cheong-mun set up the board for Cheong-myeong to run wild on. Even if the one who set up the board this time wasn’t Cheong-mun but Jang Il-so, it wouldn’t be any different.

“Hey! Bandit!”

“Preparing!”

Im So-byeong had already climbed onto the cart and was taking out writing tools. Those who saw the sight shook their heads. How did that guy know to prepare writing tools in advance? That’s why it’s scary to associate with strategists.

“Okay, so that’s roughly settled.”

Cheong-myeong’s eyes sparkled.

“Let’s go to Shaanxi with all our strength! The fate of the Heavenly Union depends on it! We need to arrive tonight!”

“Uh⋯⋯. Then the treasures might get a little damaged. Is that okay?”

“If you don’t arrive by tomorrow morning, you’re all dead!”

It was the moment when everyone clearly recognized where the scales of the Heavenly Union’s fate and a few carts of treasure were tilted.