Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1554

“In the end, the Cheonwoo Alliance has moved.”

Jonglihyung, a Joint Leader, watched Bubjeong. Bubjeong’s eyes were closed, his face still. It was impossible to guess what he was thinking.

“I wonder what he’s thinking,” Paengyeop muttered, his face hardening.

Jang Ilso’s attack on Gangbuk threatened more than just the Gu sect. The Cheonwoo Alliance was in even greater danger.

Unlike the Gu sect, which was united by the vague idea of Hobuk, the Cheonwoo Alliance had a clear base in Hwaeum.

Jang Ilso could attack Hwaeum at any moment. Knowing this, why were they sending their main force away?

Even an idiot wouldn’t do that.

“How many fighters did they send to Gangbuk? Just enough to look good?”

“The Beggars’ Sect hasn’t given us good information yet. It’s hard to know for sure, but it seems the Cheonwoo Alliance sent at least 20% of their fighters to Gangbuk.”

“The Beggars’ Sect…” Paengyeop gritted his teeth.

The fact that they weren’t sending information irritated him more than the ‘20%’ figure itself.

Recently, the Beggars’ Sect had been obviously favoring other groups over the Gu sect and the Cheonwoo Alliance, especially since the new leader took over.

His stomach churned, but he couldn’t do anything. They would be blind and deaf without the Beggars’ Sect, and they couldn’t leave Hobuk right now.

“Are you sure about this 20% figure?”

“Yes, it seems so.”

Not just 20%, but ‘at least’ 20%.

In war, 20% of the force could change everything.

And they were wasting that force to catch mere rabble from the Evil Sects.

Paengyeop shook his head. Jonglihyung spoke.

“Isn’t this just another strange thing the Cheonwoo Alliance is doing?”

“This is not something to ignore,” Paengyeop replied coldly.

“It’s true the Cheonwoo Alliance has done strange things before, but most of them only led to the destruction of one or two smaller groups. Actually, it wasn’t even that bad.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just that the people involved made it sound like a bigger deal than it was. The Cheonwoo Alliance’s actions so far wouldn’t have caused much damage even if they had failed. Look at the Hainan trip, for example.”

Jonglihyung and Bubgye, who were listening, nodded.

Now that he thought about it, he was right. Even if something big had happened on the trip to Hainan, only about ten people from the Cheonwoo Alliance would have died. They just attracted attention because they were famous.

“But this is different. This choice could destroy the Cheonwoo Alliance. Why would they do this…?” Paengyeop shook his head, confused.

Then, Bubjeong, who had been silent, opened his eyes and said, “Starting a new river is hard work.”

“Abbot.”

“But stopping it once it flows? Almost impossible.”

The faces of those gathered darkened.

Everyone understood what he meant.

“It’s about momentum. There’s no way to stop it now. Even the Hwasan Sword Saint can’t turn back.”

“Hmm…” Paengyeop groaned softly.

It was their own fault. The Cheonwoo Alliance, so proud of their cleverness, was now tripping over themselves. They could laugh, but the problem was that the consequences wouldn’t only affect the Cheonwoo Alliance.

If the Cheonwoo Alliance failed, the Gu sect would have to take the blame.

“But… I thought they would at least worry about it,” Bubjeong muttered softly. Paengyeop noticed the brief, bitter smile on his lips.

“I expected them to be caught up in what they had done, but they seem to be reacting quickly.”

“What do you think, Clan Leader Paeng?”

“It’s one of two things. Either the Hwasan Sword Saint is more foolish than we thought, or he can no longer control the Cheonwoo Alliance as he wants.”

Everyone thought seriously.

Could the Hwasan Sword Saint, Chung Myung, be more foolish than expected?

That was unlikely.

Those present were confident, but not arrogant. They knew the Hwasan Sword Saint was much smarter than them.

Jonglihyung replied, “It must be the second one.”

“Probably.”

“But is that possible? Shouldn’t he have more power, considering what he’s done?”

Even if the Hwasan Sword Saint kicked out Hyun Jong and took over, some would be angry, but those who knew the truth would understand.

“Things don’t always make sense,” Bubjeong smiled bitterly.

“Let’s stop talking about this. It’s like we are insulting ourselves.”

“Ahem,” Jonglihyung coughed awkwardly.

Bubjeong was right. Even the abbot of Shaolin, the greatest in the world, was losing control, and his disciples were leaving Mount Song. So, was it surprising that the young Hwasan Sword Saint didn’t have as much control as he thought?

Bubjeong, looking at the map of the Cheonwoo Alliance’s route from the Beggars’ Sect, spoke again.

“So… what about the Four Evil Sects?”

“There aren’t any big movements yet. Janggagye is still busy, but compared to the noise…”

Jonglihyung was about to say, ‘Maybe the Four Evil Sects don’t plan to move?’

“They will move,” Bubjeong said firmly.

“Yes?”

Before he could ask, Bubjeong continued, “They have reacted.”

Bubjeong’s eyes were dark as he looked at the map.

The movements of the Four Evil Sects wouldn’t create anything useful. The only reason for their actions was…

‘They must have moved the Cheonwoo Alliance.’

So, the Four Evil Sects would move soon. Now that the Cheonwoo Alliance had moved, there would be an opening, and Jang Ilso could exploit it better than anyone.

Of course, Jang Ilso probably didn’t expect the Cheonwoo Alliance to move so foolishly.

“Tell the Beggars’ Sect to watch Janggagye closely from now on.”

“I’ll try, but I don’t know if they’ll listen to us…”

“Just tell them. The new leader of the Beggars’ Sect isn’t stupid. He won’t completely ignore the Gu sect in this situation, especially since my life is at risk.”

“…Understood, Abbot,” Jonglihyung sighed deeply.

I trusted Gae-bang completely, but I still felt cautious. Why was I so careful, even when saying something so obvious?

“Any news from the Zhuge family?”

“Yes. They will join us after they finish clearing the area. It’s lucky, actually. The Tianwu Alliance moving around has made the cleanup faster than they thought.”

“Good.”

Beopjeong answered quickly, his eyes still on the map spread out before him. His face was serious.

*The Overlord,* he thought. *Jang Il-so.*

*He is moving. I knew he would.*

Beopjeong would not move from this spot. He believed that when someone moves, they become open to attack. This was true for Jang Il-so too. Beopjeong planned to use that opening.

“Amitabha,” Beopjeong murmured. The Buddhist prayer sounded deep in the quiet room.

*One strike,* he thought. *Just one, after waiting patiently.*

*I will put everything back where it belongs.*

*Back to the way things should be.*

❀ ❀ ❀

“The Tianwu Alliance has moved,” Ho Gamyeong said, his eyes sharp.

“Just as we thought.”

“Hmm.”

Jang Il-so looked at Ho Gamyeong and frowned slightly.

“Why so serious? You look like you’ve lost all your money.”

“They are moving too predictably.”

Jang Il-so sighed. “Ah, you’re too tired. When this war is done, you need a holiday. Go to a place with nice mountains and clean water and relax.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I am thinking clearly.”

*He doesn’t look like it,* Jang Il-so thought, and tilted his head a little as Ho Gamyeong kept talking, not noticing.

“The Nine Factions might be foolish and predictable, but not the Tianwu Alliance. Even without the Mount Hua Sword Master, Im So-byeong, the Green Forest King, is smart.”

“Hmm?”

“He must know what we are planning. So, for him to move so openly… it means…”

“You think he’s hiding something else?” Jang Il-so asked, finishing his sentence.

Ho Gamyeong nodded seriously.

*I can’t underestimate them,* he thought. *I know they are stronger than me. I must be careful.*

“Yes, that’s what I think.”

“Gamyeong, Gamyeong,” Jang Il-so said, shaking his head in a big way. Ho Gamyeong’s eyes became a little sharper.

“Does Leader disagree?”

“Disagree? No. It’s obvious they won’t move exactly as they seem. Do you think they are stupid?”

“Then…”

He was asking why Jang Il-so seemed to react differently even though they thought the same thing.

Jang Il-so smiled strangely.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“…Doesn’t matter?” Ho Gamyeong asked, confused.

“Whatever they are hiding, it’s not important. What matters is not *what* they do, but *that* they did something.”

Ho Gamyeong still looked puzzled. He was usually very clever, but he didn’t understand this.

“So, does Leader think this is good for us?”

“Who knows? Maybe yes, maybe no.” Jang Il-so chuckled quietly.

“It’s not about good or bad. It’s about them making a choice.”

“But if their choice is the right one…”

“Tsk, tsk, Gamyeong. Why are you making this so difficult? Right or wrong doesn’t matter! The important thing is they chose to act. Do you get it?”

Ho Gamyeong frowned, still not understanding. He just sighed.

Jang Il-so was probably explaining as clearly as he could. Ho Gamyeong just couldn’t grasp it.

“We just need to make their choice trap them. And that’s easy.”

Jang Il-so’s lips curved into a smile. Ho Gamyeong watched him, saying nothing.

*How long has he been planning this?* Ho Gamyeong wondered.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Jang Il-so said, smiling gently.

“I’m not that amazing. The Mount Hua Sword Master and the Shaolin Abbot are just as strong, maybe even stronger in some ways.”

“That’s too humble,” Ho Gamyeong said.

Anyone would think so. But Jang Il-so seemed serious as he shook his head.

“I just know one thing they don’t.”

“…And what is that?”

Jang Il-so looked towards the tent opening, out into the world.

“From small tricks to big wars, everything comes down to… people.”

Jang Il-so’s face became serious, almost cold.

It looked like disgust, or maybe admiration, or even fear.

“And now, we will show them that.”

Jang Il-so quickly hid his feelings and smiled again.

“Okay, that’s enough talk. Tell them to start. It’s sooner than I thought, but they are rushing things. Tsk, tsk.”

“Yes, I will give the orders now.”

Ho Gamyeong turned and left.

Jang Il-so looked down at his long fingernails, a lazy look on his face, and smiled slightly.

*I thought he would try a little harder,* he thought.

It wasn’t about right or wrong.

But it wasn’t a very interesting choice.

“He really doesn’t understand people.”

Jang Il-so’s eyes shone with amusement.

“If he doesn’t show his real plan, I’ll force him to. Then we’ll understand each other better.”

A bright, innocent smile, like a child starting a fun game, stayed on his face for a while.