Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1558

Boom! The door crashed open.

Tang Gunak stormed into the conference room. His face was pale and hard, like a frozen lake. One look at him told everyone: this was grave.

“What’s the situation?” He asked Im So-byeong without even taking a seat.

“The Black Dragon King and the full force of Surochae have landed in Gangbuk.”

“Where?”

“…Anhui. It’s practically next door to Hefei.”

Tang Gunak bit his lower lip.

Anhui was the most critical region in this operation. It was the area most heavily attacked by the enemy and practically the home base of the Namgung Clan. That was why so many members of the Cheonwu Alliance had been sent there.

And Surochae had landed there?

‘A coincidence?’ No, it couldn’t be.

“Please, take a seat,” Hyun Jong, who had arrived earlier, offered. Tang Gunak quickly sat down and said to Hyun Jong with a hardened expression, “We need to call the children back.”

“…”

“We don’t know exactly what they’re aiming for, but it’s clear they’ve used this to lure us into a move. We need to call them back to the Cheonwu Alliance before it’s too late to fix things.”

Hyun Jong let out a faint groan.

“But, Clan Leader…”

“Alliance Leader,” Tang Gunak’s voice was chillingly low. “Perhaps we were wrong from the start. We thought they were using small fry to weaken the Cheonwu Alliance’s main force, but maybe what they were really after were the younger members sent to Gangbuk themselves.”

Thinking differently, it became clear. Attacking the weaker side first is logical strategy.

Right now, the weaker side isn’t the main Cheonwu Alliance force in Hwaeum. It’s the groups spread out across Gangbuk.

“So, we need to call the younger members back immediately and reorganize.”

“Can we retreat?” Im So-byeong’s cold voice cut into Tang Gunak’s ears at that moment. Tang Gunak’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m asking if there’s a way to retreat.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Why did we create a communication network through the Beggars’ Sect and the Beast Palace? Wasn’t it for moments like this?”

Hyun Jong nodded in agreement.

“Call everyone back immediately.”

As the two agreed, Im So-byeong sighed deeply.

He never imagined he would say such a thing himself.

“…Then what happens to Gangbuk?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just letting loose the Demonic Alliance’s weaker members has turned the area into chaos. And now Surochae has invaded as well.”

Tang Gunak’s eyes twitched slightly.

“Unless the Demonic Alliance is full of fools, their purpose is clear. And you’re saying we should ignore all of that and huddle in Hwaeum?”

Tang Gunak seemed speechless, silently staring at Im So-byeong. Im So-byeong pressed the end of his fan against his throbbing temple.

“Civilians, rescue… Honestly, I still don’t quite understand the talk about doing what’s right, but at least I know how retreating now will look to others.”

“This is no time to worry about such things. Don’t you know that?”

Im So-byeong answered back, his voice cold.

“And how it will feel to those who are already in Gangbuk.”

Tang Gunak had no choice but to fall silent at these words.

“Knowing something in your mind is not the same as seeing it yourself. Those who went to Gangbuk have already witnessed the demonic enemies crossing the river and slaughtering innocent civilians. And now we’re going to retreat? Just because they’re in danger?”

Im So-byeong’s voice was even and calm. But that made it sound all the more chilling.

“It’s ridiculous for me to say it myself, but the reason we are the Cheonwu Alliance is because we would never retreat in such a situation. We would laugh and die if ordered to, but we would never abandon innocent civilians to save our own skins.”

Tang Gunak squeezed his eyes shut.

Of course, the Cheonwu Alliance had never intended to abandon everyone to save themselves. But from the perspective of those out there, it was only natural that it would sound that way.

Suddenly, two faces flashed through his mind.

Dang So-so and Dang Pae. His children.

As the Clan Leader, and as their father, he knew better than anyone. Even those two would resist with all their might if they received an order to retreat.

But.

“I’ll take responsibility. Order everyone to retreat in the name of the Vice Alliance Leader. I will not tolerate disobedience.”

However, Im So-byeong stubbornly shook his head again.

“I cannot do that.”

Tang Gunak’s eyes narrowed. Im So-byeong continued calmly, unfazed.

“The most problematic sect in the Cheonwu Alliance has always been Mount Hua, no matter what anyone says. They’re always the first to cause trouble. But this time, the situation might be different.”

Tang Gunak, who had been planning to suppress Im So-byeong with his authority if necessary, paused for a moment.

Because Im So-byeong’s words brought two all-too-familiar syllables to his mind.

“…Namgung?”

“Yes.” Im So-byeong nodded with a grave expression.

If the Cheonwu Alliance retreated like this, Anhui would be reduced to ashes. But would the Namgung Clan really obey that order?

“We could force Mount Hua to obey, using the power of the Alliance Leader and Sect Leader. But the Namgung Clan? Never. Trying to stop them like that would only make them leave us. Maybe if the Chief Strategist himself spoke to the Young Clan Leader… but even then, I doubt it would work.”

“…”

“And if such a situation were to occur…”

Im So-byeong didn’t bother to voice the rest of his thought. But Tang Gunak was more than capable of guessing what he meant.

A series of defections. No, even if it didn’t go that far, the bond that held the Cheonwu Alliance together would undoubtedly be shattered.

Nothing could be more terrible at a time when the war was just beginning.

Gritting his teeth.

Tang Gunak ground his teeth.

Jang Il-so had only made his second move.

He had merely pushed those who might have been useful on the Yangtze River into Gangbuk, depending on the situation.

And yet, the situation had become so complicated.

The most important thing in this move wasn’t the existence of Surochae. It was creating a situation where they would be hit the hardest.

That Jang Il-so was sitting in Jangga and doing it so casually.

“Then what do you suggest we do?”

“We must choose. Whether to call them back, risking Namgung’s defection and internal discontent. Or…” Im So-byeong put a little more emphasis on his words, as if his own opinion was the latter. “Whether to fight against Surochae.”

“…Are you out of your mind?”

“It’s not as bad a move as you think. The forces currently in Gangbuk are not to be underestimated. If they’re on land, not water, they’re more than capable of competing with Surochae.”

“What is possible and what can be done are different things.”

“Be reasonable, Clan Leader Dang.” Im So-byeong snapped coldly.

“I understand you’re worried about them because they’re like your own children, but they’re no longer just beings to be protected. They are the Cheonwu Alliance’s forces, and we must be prepared to take losses and willing to sacrifice them if necessary.”

Tang Gunak fell silent. Then Hyun Jong, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

“Green Forest King.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

“Have you conveyed the situation?”

“I have sent an urgent message to the Chief Strategist.”

“To Cheong-myeong?”

“Yes.”

“…What about the others?”

“The Chief Strategist will be the first to know, but the others should be receiving the message around now.”

Hyun Jong’s face darkened slightly. But that was all.

Im So-byeong found this surprising. He had thought that Hyun Jong would be the most anxious in such a situation, but he seemed more composed than Tang Gunak.

Perhaps it was because he had been thinking about this kind of situation all along.

“Is it possible to contact Cheong-myeong again?”

“It is possible, but it will take a little longer since we have already sent the golden falcon. What message do you wish to convey?”

“I am worried.” A shadow of concern fell over Hyun Jong’s face. Im So-byeong sighed.

“I understand your concern, but this is not the time to make hasty decisions. Gangbuk is vast, and there is still plenty of time to react. First, we should observe their movements a little more…”

“I wish we had that time. But I fear we do not.”

At that moment, Im So-byeong’s eyes narrowed.

He found it difficult to understand Hyun Jong’s vague words. He understood that it was a situation that caused anxiety, but this was not the time to be talking about other things…

“Perhaps this is not the time to worry about Namgung’s defection.”

“…Yes?”

“I heard that the news has been delivered to everyone.”

“That is correct.”

“Then how will the younger members react?”

“…For now, they will wait for instructions from us. The civilians on the Yangtze River are already being evacuated, so there is no need to go out of our way to intercept them, is there?”

“That is correct. That is the sensible thing to do. Unless those in Anhui are not the Namgung Clan.”

“The Namgung Clan…” Im So-byeong closed his mouth for a moment. At the same time, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

He finally understood what Hyun Jong was worried about.

He looked at the strategy and the situation. That was why he had failed to consider one thing.

“No, surely not?”

“That is correct.”

“Namgung… Hwang…” At the name that flowed out like a groan, Hyun Jong nodded heavily.

“Surochae are the ones who destroyed half of the Namgung Clan at Plum Blossom Island and drove Namgung Hwang, who was the Clan Leader, to his death. From the perspective of the Young Clan Leader Namgung Do-wi, who is now leading the Namgung Clan, they are enemies he deeply hates.”

“…”

“He has been patient until now, but it is obvious how much resentment has built up in his heart, even without seeing it.”

Im So-byeong gripped his fan.

The Namgung Clan is currently in Anhui. And their mortal enemy has entered Anhui.

Then how will Namgung Do-wi react?

“Can we retreat?” Hyun Jong repeated the words that Im So-byeong had said a moment ago.

“If the Green Forest King were in the Young Clan Leader’s position…”

He could retreat.

Im So-byeong would answer without the slightest hesitation. He could retreat as much as he wanted. He would even bow to the Black Dragon King for the sake of profit.

But what about Namgung Do-wi? Could that Namgung Do-wi really do that?

Perhaps now is the only moment he has to repay his enemy with his own hands.

Because the opportunity for the two to meet in the complex situation unfolding on the grand stage of the Central Plains is not so common.

Knowing that, could he retreat? Could that Namgung Do-wi?

Im So-byeong was silent. Hyun Jong said with a dark expression,

“I hope that does not happen…”

“Ah, An…”

“Perhaps it is already too late.”

Crack! The fan that Im So-byeong was holding finally broke.

Crack.

The white letter was crumpled in a rough hand.

Slowly opening his fist again, he stared down at his hand.

Calluses were forming, and it was a mess with cracks everywhere.

In the past, his hand was no less than that of a master swordsman, but now it was so rough that it was closer to that of a demon.

He knew.

What made his hand like this was, on the surface, a desire for improvement and a sense of responsibility. But in reality, it was the desire for revenge that he had hidden deep inside.

He had spent countless nights without forgetting.

His father, who had sacrificed himself to send him away first. And the abuse that was poured out on that father. That pathetic self who had to run away knowing all of that. That misery.

“Black Dragon King… Jeok Seok-kwang.” The man, Namgung Do-wi, slowly rose from his seat.

Looking up at the wide, blue sky, he smiled.

“The sky is azure,” Namgung Do-wi murmured, looking up. Azure. The color of the Namgung Clan. It was a color of pride, and today, a color of war.