Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1527

“An opportunity?” The Lord of the Southern Sea Sun Palace, Jin-pyeong, looked angry. “Your rudeness is too much.”

Displeasure flickered in the eyes of Jin-pyeong, the Lord of the Southern Sea Sun Palace.

“You, a small sect leader, dare to offer *me* an opportunity? Go on, keep talking. You are going to die anyway. So, speak freely. What could you hide?”

The one before him was royalty, and this place, where the Thousand-Faced Envoy stood, was the kingdom of that royal. If the Palace Lord wanted to, the Thousand-Faced Envoy could not hope to return alive.

Yet, the Thousand-Faced Envoy showed no fear.

‘Nothing in this world is useless.’

He used to dislike Jang Il-so’s fancy lifestyle, but now, it was useful. He was not scared by the grand scene. He felt nothing.

“As you say, how could a small sect leader dare to offer an opportunity to the Palace Lord? Are you not the ruler here, the most powerful man in this kingdom?”

The Sun Palace Lord glared at the Thousand-Faced Envoy without a word.

“However… surely you want more than just to rule this small place, Im-eup?”

“Haha! Haha!”

A thunderous laugh suddenly erupted from the Sun Palace Lord’s lips.

“Are you trying to insult me?”

“Of course not. I am just suggesting. Everyone wants something greater than what they have.”

“I am not like that.”

“Perhaps… Thanks to someone, I understand human desire a little better now. Some are happy with what they have, while others are never satisfied, no matter how much they get.”

The Sun Palace Lord’s eyebrow twitched.

“The fact that we are talking proves my point, right? You didn’t learn fluent Mandarin as a hobby, I guess.”

It was a sharp observation. The Sun Palace Lord’s expression became even harder. This time, he did not deny the Thousand-Faced Envoy’s words.

“Palace Lord, I am just conveying the words of the Overlord.”

The Sun Palace Lord’s eyebrow twitched.

“The Overlord?”

“Yes.”

“…What did he say?”

“A missed chance does not come back.”

The Thousand-Faced Envoy spoke firmly, cutting off the Sun Palace Lord’s question before it was finished.

“…The meaning?”

“Well, I am not clever enough to understand all your words, but… if I were to guess, I would say it means this.”

“Continue.”

“Whether the Four Great Evils win, or the Nine Sects win, once one side wins, the Southern Sea Sun Palace’s chance to enter the Central Plains will be lost forever.”

The Sun Palace Lord Jin-pyeong’s face became hard.

“It cannot be helped. The Sun Palace cannot force its way into a unified Jianghu. If that happens, you will continue to enjoy a peaceful life here, as you have always done. Living a life of extravagant ease.”

“Hmm.”

With these words, the mask on the Sun Palace Lord’s face broke completely. The hard expression was his true feeling.

A life of extravagant ease.

To some, that might be paradise. But to the Sun Palace Lord, it was like hell.

“What will you give me?”

“Two things.”

“…Advance into Yunnan?”

“No. Control over Yunnan.”

At those words, the Sun Palace Lord’s eyes widened slightly.

“The situation in Jeomchang has been taken care of.”

“I know. But what about the Beast Palace?”

“Of course. But the best members of the Beast Palace are with the Palace Lord in the Central Plains. They are north of Sichuan, unable to cross.”

When he said ‘Central Plains,’ a light flickered in the Sun Palace Lord’s eyes.

“There are some unimportant people left, but they are nothing. Surely the Sun Palace can handle that much?”

“Hmm.”

“We will give you Yunnan.”

The Sun Palace Lord asked quietly, his eyes slightly dark.

“Only Yunnan…? What about Sichuan?”

“Being too greedy is dangerous, Palace Lord.”

“I just asked.”

The Sun Palace Lord licked his lips and tapped his thumb on his chair.

The Thousand-Faced Envoy was right. Whether the Nine Sects win, or the Four Great Evils win, if one side wins and unites the Central Plains, the Southern Sea Sun Palace’s chance to advance into the Central Plains will become small.

‘Yunnan…’

He thought for a moment before asking.

“The other thing?”

“Safety.”

Safety? The Thousand-Faced Envoy spoke.

“If the Southern Sea Sun Palace helps, the Overlord has promised to keep the Southern Sea Sun Palace safe forever.”

Without warning, a scary heat came from the Sun Palace Lord’s body.

“How dare you!”

His anger shook the great hall.

“How dare you say such foolish things to me!”

He looked ready to tear the Thousand-Faced Envoy apart. Yet, the Thousand-Faced Envoy spoke without any fear.

“The Overlord said this: ‘A leader is not ruled by feelings. If he is very angry, it’s just to control you.’”

Then, the heat and anger in the great hall vanished.

The Sun Palace Lord stared at the Thousand-Faced Envoy.

“Yunnan and safety, you say?”

“That is right.”

A twisted smile appeared on the Sun Palace Lord’s lips.

“Half of Sichuan… No. That would be too risky.”

“…”

“Yunnan and safety…”

The Sun Palace Lord chuckled. It was a great offer, but not enough to treat the Southern Sea Sun Palace as a pawn.

Still…

“Then.”

The Sun Palace Lord’s eyes burned like the sun.

“What do we have to do now?”

A happy smile appeared on the lips of the Thousand-Faced Envoy, Dam Yeo-hae.

“What do you think will happen?”

“Tsk tsk, Ga-myeong. Shouldn’t I be asking and you answering? You are telling me what to do these days.”

“Sorry. So, what do you think?”

“Ugh. You never listen.”

Jang Il-so grumbled before answering.

“He’ll accept.”

“He is royalty. He has more power than the king.”

“That’s why he’ll accept.”

“…You mean he’ll accept because he is royalty?”

“Yes. The one who unites the Central Plains wants to control the North, and the one who controls the North goes on distant trips.”

“…”

“Do you understand? A man is never satisfied. He accepts because he is like a king. It’s obvious.”

Ho Ga-myeong lowered his head.

“But if that’s true… won’t he cause trouble?”

“Maybe. He might cause a rebellion. But… a seed only matters when it grows.”

Red lips smiled mysteriously. Ho Ga-myeong nodded, understanding.

“If we can get the Southern Sea Sun Palace to join us, the delay of the past month will be nothing. It’s a big win.”

“Let’s be honest. We barely avoided a loss. All this trouble for just the Sun Palace.”

Just the Sun Palace. Only Jang Il-so could say that.

“Was destroying Jeomchang also part of this plan?”

“Well, it was a lucky accident.”

Jang Il-so replied with a relaxed face.

Ho Ga-myeong shook his head.

Destroying Jeomchang, one of the Nine Sects, was a great achievement. Yet, Jang Il-so had also made it possible for the Southern Sea Sun Palace to enter the Central Plains. That was why the Sun Palace Lord could take the hand of the Four Great Evils.

“You are the only one who would think this is normal, Lord.”

“There’s one more. That grumpy Taoist.”

Plum Blossom Sword Demon, Cheong-myeong. Ho Ga-myeong clenched his fist.

“He probably expected this. Maybe he knew from the moment we attacked Jeomchang.”

“…He did?”

“Yes. That’s why he’s running around like that. Even dragging in those beggar bastards. Haha!”

Jang Il-so laughed. The thought of the Plum Blossom Sword Demon bothering the Beggar’s Union amused him.

“Losing track of me must have been hard, eh? Seeing him bother those beggars like that.”

Ho Ga-myeong did not say anything.

What more could anyone say when they heard the Cheonwoo Alliance had settled the conflict within the Beggars’ Sect and brought them into their group? People were already saying, “The Plum Blossom Sword Demon must have taught the Beggars’ Sect a lesson.”

Hoga-myung paused, knowing his next words might sound too bold, and then spoke carefully.

“Lord Leader, wouldn’t things be different if the Beggars’ Sect, even as it is now, were controlled by the Plum Blossom Sword Demon?”

“It would be different,” Jang Il-so agreed quickly.

Information itself is not valuable. What matters is how someone uses it. The ability to understand and combine information is key.

Even the Beggars’ Sect’s clumsy information network could become dangerous if used by Cheong-myeong, the Hwasan Sword Saint.

But Jang Il-so continued, “No, it *could* have been different.”

“…”

“If he had been wary of me a few years earlier, if I had created the Cheonwoo Alliance even five years sooner…”

This was a huge compliment, one that would have surprised any other member of the Four Evil Sects. But Hoga-myung, who respected and admired Jang Il-so more than anyone, didn’t disagree.

“But now it’s too late. They might try to build a fortress against the waves, but it will be just a sandcastle.”

Jang Il-so slowly reached his hand out.

“No matter how good it looks, a sandcastle is still made of sand.”

Crack!

Jang Il-so clenched his fist in the air. At that moment, a chilling aura swept across his face. His skin seemed to tighten, becoming pale as bone, and his eyes turned as cold and sharp as winter ice. The air in the room felt suddenly colder, as if a gust of wind had blown through.

“It will collapse. Easily.”

Creak.

The sound from his joints echoed eerily. Hoga-myung lowered his head slightly. After a moment, Jang Il-so relaxed his hand as if nothing had happened.

“Soon now. Yes, very soon.”

He muttered to himself, then suddenly stroked his chin and said, “But I am curious.”

“Yes?”

A childlike smile appeared on his face.

“What will his expression be when that sandcastle crumbles? What screams will he make in that fire, burning without a trace? It will be a sight to see, one that won’t happen again.”

“…”

“Tell Jeong I-sip-sam to begin.”

“…It will take more time for the Sun Palace to join us.”

“We never planned to wait for them, did we?”

Hoga-myung nodded.

“There’s no point in starting when others expect it. It only matters when we strike when they least expect it.”

“I will obey your command.”

“Good.”

Jang Il-so replied slowly, looking at the many rings on his hand.

“Let them watch as much as they want. I will take it all.”

His eyes were as cold as a predator stalking its prey.

Hoga-myung closed his eyes for a moment.

The Lord Leader is right. The preparations have already begun. The foolish ones may not know it yet, but when the time comes, the flame that rises from the ashes will burn even brighter than before.

‘Plum Blossom Sword Demon.’

Hoga-myung recognized him, more than anyone else in the world. But…

‘Your bad luck is that you were born in this era.’

The era ruled by the Overlord.

“Huh? W-what are you talking about?”

“What do you mean, what are we going to do?”

Everyone’s eyes widened. Even Yoon-jong’s.

“We’re not defending it.”

Everyone was shocked.

Not defending it? This place?

“Then why did we build the main base? And work so hard on it!” Tang Gunak asked, naturally. It seemed strange. And the answer was even stranger.

“Do we have to defend it just because we have a main base?”

“Of course!”

“Why?”

Everyone was speechless and looked at Im So-byeong.

“You won’t find that in any military strategy book,” Im So-byeong said, so everyone looked at Baek Cheon, seeking advice from someone who understood Cheong-myeong.

“…I don’t think he’s just saying nonsense to be annoying. We should probably take it seriously,” Baek Cheon said.

After hearing their opinions, everyone stared blankly at Cheong-myeong again.

“Could you… explain it in a bit more detail…? No, explain it in a way that’s easy to understand. What are you going to do?”

“How many times do I have to say it? We’re not defending this place.”

“No, I mean, why?”

“I told you, this is a supply depot and a shelter. How many times have I said that!”

Oh, right. He did say something like that.

“Wait a moment,” Im So-byeong raised his hand. Cheong-myeong nodded, telling him to speak.

“We’ve received troops and refugees in Hwaeom, stockpiled military supplies, and even gained eyes to watch the surroundings.”

“That’s right.”

“Hwaeom is very familiar to both Hwasan and us. But it’s very unfamiliar to those bastards. We have a clear advantage here.”

“That’s right, you know it well.”

“Then shouldn’t we defend this place as a base? Those bastards have no choice but to attack! Even a child knows that defense is better than offense!”

“It’s not right?”

“Yes?”

“Who says defense is better than offense?”

“Well, all military strategists…”

“That’s their story, not mine.”

“Yes?”

“I find offense easier.”

Ah… If that’s the case, then… Haha…

“And this isn’t the time to talk about military strategy. We’ve already seen it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Can you block everything that bastard attacks with? Just sitting here?”

Im So-byeong’s face became serious. He was right. To block all of Jang Il-so’s attacks, they would have to know all his plans.

And they already knew that was impossible.

Cheong-myeong chuckled and continued, “Geographical advantages? Advantages of defense? Are we just going to hide here and tremble while dealing with a madman who could attack anytime, anywhere? Praying that he attacks the Nine Great Sects before us?”

Im So-byeong was speechless.

“That’s what that bastard wants. Why do you think he’s been waiting there, biding his time?”

Im So-byeong thought about Cheong-myeong’s question and then gasped softly, as if he had realized something.

Those bastards had settled right under their noses, as if they were about to attack at any moment. Why were they there?

To make them cower and defend.

Just by being there, they were controlling the movements of the Nine Great Sects and the Cheonwoo Alliance.

“I missed that…”

“That bastard is good at tricking people. And I’m bad at defense.”

“…”

“If I use my weakness against the enemy’s strength, I’ll lose. I’ll probably get backstabbed again. I’m tired of that now.”

Cheong-myeong’s lips twisted unpleasantly. Hyun-jong, who had been listening quietly, asked seriously, “Cheong-myeong-ah, do you have a plan?”

“Well, it’s obvious.”

Cheong-myeong slowly gripped the sword at his waist.

“What we’ve built is a sandcastle.”

“…”

“But so is what they’ve built. If we’re a sandcastle, then the Four Evil Sects are an upside-down tower.”

Cheong-myeong’s eyes were as cold as ice.

The Four Evil Sects were unusually strong, stronger than they should have been. Jang Il-so was the reason for that. But that also meant…

“So, it’s clear what we need to attack.”

“Cheong-myeong…”

“I will kill that bastard.”

That firm statement sent shivers down everyone’s spines.

In the silence, Cheong-myeong’s pearly white teeth appeared eerily.

“Now it’s my turn to attack.”

His eyes gleamed like a wild beast’s.