Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1560

“The Water Route Camp?” Baek Sang asked, referring to the well-known group of fighters.

“Yes, Senior Uncle!” Baek Sang replied.

Baek Sang’s smile vanished. His eyes widened, and he stopped moving, like a statue suddenly turned to ice.

Baek Cheon frowned, his thoughts racing. *(The Water Route Camp… it’s so obvious!)*

*Too obvious,* he thought. It was a simple plan, anyone could see it. But that was the trick. Because it was so clear, they hadn’t expected it. A simple move, done at the right time, could be brilliant.

“From the Cheonwu Alliance?” Baek Sang asked, clarifying that it was a group of martial artists.

“No orders have been issued yet. Only a directive to be cautious, as they have entered Anhui…” Baek Sang explained, referring to the region of Anhui.

“Anhui?” Baek Cheon asked, his voice laced with concern.

Baek Cheon’s face turned ashen. *(This is bad,)* he thought.

The moment he heard the words ‘Anhui’ and ‘the Water Route Camp,’ he could foresee what was about to happen.

“The Namgung Clan!” Baek Cheon exclaimed, referring to the family group of martial artists.

“Yes?” Baek Sang responded, awaiting further instruction.

“What of the Namgung Clan? What is Namgung Dowi, the Young Lord, doing?” Baek Cheon asked, his anxiety growing.

“I don’t know about that…” Baek Sang admitted, looking worried.

Baek Cheon bit his lower lip, frustrated. What was the point of asking? He already knew the answer.

Namgung Dowi was a decisive man, but not a composed one. He might appear calm on the surface, but inside, a fire raged.

Hadn’t he witnessed Namgung Dowi’s impulsiveness before? Would such a man remain still upon hearing that his enemy was approaching? Namgung Dowi, like a dragon hidden underwater, had stayed quiet for a long time. But now he was out in the open, ready to fight.

If Namgung missed this opportunity, he might never have another chance to defeat his enemy. Would he even hesitate?

“Damn it!” Baek Cheon cursed under his breath.

Baek Cheon slammed his fist lightly on the table. *The Jang River… it’s the only place he would go.* He knew Namgung too well. There was no need to guess anymore. Namgung had undoubtedly gone to the Jang River.

“The Cheonwu Alliance…” Baek Cheon muttered, his mind racing.

It was impossible for the Alliance to react in time. Even if orders were issued upon hearing the news, it would take at least half a day for them to arrive. That was more than enough time for Namgung Dowi, acting rashly, to reach the Jang River.

Even if Namgung retained some reason and didn’t rush so recklessly, if they only moved after the orders arrived…

*It’s too late!* Baek Cheon thought, his anxiety rising.

Once the moment was lost, no matter what they did, they wouldn’t be able to change the fate of Namgung and the Water Route Camp.

Baek Cheon repeatedly clenched and unclenched his hands, which had become slightly stiff with tension.

His deliberation didn’t last long.

“We’re going to the Jang River,” Baek Cheon announced, his voice firm.

“S-Senior Brother! We…” Baek Sang stammered, unsure.

“I know. I know it’s different from the mission we were assigned,” Baek Cheon said, reassuring him. “Don’t worry. I’m not so reckless as to rush to the Jang River and help the Namgung Clan right away.”

“Then…” Baek Sang began, seeking clarification.

“We need to receive orders from somewhere nearby! That way, we can either stop them or help them in time. We can’t do anything here!” Baek Cheon explained, his voice urgent.

Only then did Baek Sang seem to understand, nodding his head. Indeed, there was nothing wrong with Baek Cheon’s words.

Problem?

Of course, there was. Currently, each group of the Cheonwu Alliance was supposed to receive orders through the branches established in each province. The moment they left the province, the command system would inevitably be disrupted.

*But…* Baek Sang thought, his mind troubled.

Baek Sang bit his lower lip. The reason he didn’t voice his concern was that he agreed it was a very small problem compared to the crisis Namgung was facing.

“I understand,” Baek Sang said, nodding.

“We must leave immediately,” Baek Cheon stated, his eyes determined.

“Yes!” Baek Sang nodded his head vigorously.

It was difficult to pinpoint what was right. However, he completely trusted Baek Cheon’s judgment.

Before them, an unexpected person suddenly appeared, blocking their path.

“That is not possible,” Yoon Jong said firmly.

Baek Cheon turned his gaze in surprise.

He saw Yoon Jong blocking them and approaching.

“…Yoon Jong?” Baek Cheon asked, his brow furrowed.

Baek Cheon frowned as he looked at Yoon Jong, who was at the front.

“Why are you here…” Baek Cheon questioned, his voice laced with annoyance.

“You must not go to the Jang River,” Yoon Jong said, shaking his head slowly but firmly.

“You must know, Senior Uncle, that unless you receive special orders, you must continue with your original mission. That is the instruction we received from the Alliance Lord before leaving the Alliance. Now, Senior Uncle is trying to violate that guideline,” Yoon Jong explained, his tone unwavering.

Baek Cheon’s eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin.

“Hasn’t the situation changed significantly?” Baek Cheon countered, his voice rising.

“The communication network exists to prevent arbitrary judgments that may arise whenever the situation changes. If everyone moves as they please, why would the Alliance, why would the communication network even be necessary?” Yoon Jong argued, standing his ground.

Baek Cheon was momentarily speechless. Yoon Jong looked straight at Baek Cheon, seemingly without an inch of compromise.

Baek Cheon began to speak, his voice low and dangerous.

“Was this your intention?” Baek Cheon asked, his eyes fixed on Yoon Jong.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just talking about principles,” Yoon Jong replied, his expression unreadable.

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth and glared at Yoon Jong.

“It’s the Namgung Clan. It’s Namgung Dowi, the Young Lord of Namgung,” Baek Cheon said, emphasizing the importance of the situation.

Yoon Jong remained silent for a moment.

“Such a person is clearly walking into a fire. Are you saying that we should just watch without stopping him, even though we know this?” Baek Cheon demanded, his voice full of disbelief.

“Even if we know, we shouldn’t jump in together,” Yoon Jong countered, his voice calm but firm.

“Yoon Jong!” Baek Cheon exclaimed, his frustration reaching a boiling point.

Yoon Jong sighed deeply, his eyes filled with a mix of understanding and resolve.

“Senior Uncle, do you know? Your actions right now remind me of someone,” Yoon Jong said, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

Baek Cheon’s expression softened slightly, a flicker of recognition in his eyes.

“That guy was always like that. He valued momentary judgments more than instructions, orders, and principles. It was none other than Senior Uncle who stopped him every time,” Yoon Jong explained, his voice filled with a hint of nostalgia.

It was undeniable. It was true that Baek Cheon had always been at the forefront of stopping him.

“But it’s strange. When that guy was around, Senior Uncle hated such things… But when he’s not around, Senior Uncle acts just like him,” Yoon Jong observed, his gaze sharp and unwavering.

Yoon Jong took a long breath and shook his head, then stared at Baek Cheon with a sharp gaze.

“Then there’s no choice, is there? I have no choice but to play Senior Uncle’s role. You must not go. No, I will never let you go,” Yoon Jong declared, his voice resolute.

At that moment, Baek Cheon’s face froze like an ice sculpture, his eyes hardening.

“If you don’t let me go?” Baek Cheon challenged, his voice dangerously low.

Yoon Jong remained silent, his expression unyielding.

“Are you saying you’ll draw your sword and block me?” Baek Cheon pressed, his hand moving towards his weapon.

“Senior Uncle,” Yoon Jong said, his voice strained.

“Like then?” Baek Cheon asked, his eyes flashing with a hint of challenge.

At those words, Yoon Jong’s face also hardened, his resolve wavering.

“I…” Yoon Jong hesitated, his internal conflict evident.

“Go ahead and try,” Baek Cheon dared, his voice cold and unforgiving.

“Senior Uncle!” Yoon Jong exclaimed, his voice filled with anguish.

“Draw it. And block me. If one of your arms gets cut off, maybe I’ll give up, won’t I?” Baek Cheon threatened, his eyes blazing with intensity.

Yoon Jong clenched his teeth, and the tendons in his jaw stood out, his body trembling with suppressed emotion.

As the two men bared their fangs and confronted each other, a flustered Baek Sang raised his voice, trying to defuse the situation.

“W-Why are you both doing this!” Baek Sang pleaded, his voice filled with confusion and fear.

It was a scene he couldn’t understand at all.

The headless body twitched on the ground for a few moments. It looked like it was still alive, even without a head.

It was a truly gruesome sight, but no one there felt fear or disgust towards the dead body.

People might fear a wild cat sometimes. But Jang Il-so was like a tiger. Next to him, a dead body was nothing to be afraid of.

Jang Il-so was more terrifying than death. Because of this, the dead body meant nothing.

“Hmm.”

Jang Il-so raised a very clean white hand. He admired his well-manicured nails, turning his blood-soaked hand around, before shaking his head slightly.

Specks of blood dotted his pale face.

“Perhaps… anyone else have a complaint? Anyone? Raise your hand.”

No one dared to raise a hand or even look at him. Heads bowed deeply, they fidgeted, unable to bow down completely. Even the smallest action could cost them their lives.

As everyone held their breath, Jang Il-so clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk. Such weak spines.”

Then, he looked down. The corpse had stopped twitching and was growing cold.

This was the man who, just moments ago, had been complaining. He was complaining about the lack of action, about being forced to hide while their enemies grew stronger. He didn’t know that Jang Il-so was approaching from behind on a rare patrol.

“Still, he had courage. And I do so love those with courage.”

“…”

“Anyone else with a complaint? Really?”

No one answered. Jang Il-so smiled brightly.

“Very well. Then be off with you. Hold your positions.”

“Yes!”

Those who answered spoke in shaky voices. They ran away quickly, as if their lives were in danger.

A cold air crept in where only Jang Il-so and the dead body remained.

Thud.

Ho Gamyung, who had been watching from a distance, approached. He offered a silk cloth he had prepared.

“My apologies.”

“Hmm? For what?”

“…This happened because I didn’t supervise properly.”

“Tsk tsk. Gamyung, how can these energetic young people not complain when they’re stuck here like this? It’s natural for them to be unhappy.”

A flicker of doubt crossed Ho Gamyung’s eyes. *Why did he kill him if he understood?* he wondered, but dared not ask.

Jang Il-so seemed to read Ho Gamyung’s mind. He answered the question before it was even asked.

“He was saying funny things. That I’m afraid and don’t want to move, that I’ve become too comfortable and don’t want to fight anymore.”

At that moment, Ho Gamyung’s eyes turned very cold. The way he glared at the dead man suggested he wanted to butcher the body again.

In Ho Gamyung’s eyes, Jang Il-so was sometimes too kind.

If Ho Gamyung had heard such insults, the person would not have died so easily or peacefully.

“No need to look at me with such scary eyes. I’m not offended at all.”

“…Yes?”

“Isn’t it lucky that there was someone like him?”

Jang Il-so chuckled softly.

“I was planning to make an example of someone today anyway. Since he did something wrong, I don’t need to kill an innocent child. It’s a lucky thing.”

Even Ho Gamyung was a little surprised by these words.

“…Can I ask why?”

Jang Il-so moved slowly, as if taking a walk.

“It’s because it’s time they started forgetting.”

A bright smile appeared on his face.

“Who I am. Whose lives these are. Whose orders they follow.”

“…”

“People are so strange. They forget what they know, and today is the same as tomorrow. Even if they know, they must be reminded. Even if they don’t, it must be made clear to them. Otherwise, chaos will happen.”

Ho Gamyung nodded in understanding.

It was a method he often used, but in a different way.

When the rules of the group are not followed, punishments are more severe than usual. Or they deliberately look for those who have done wrong.

“Do you know why people make these mistakes?”

“…I don’t know.”

“It’s because people always think they are right. They believe their ideas are best, no matter who disagrees.”

“…”

“So even those foolish people probably think their ideas are better than mine. They think that if it were them, they would have already attacked and defeated the enemy, and that I am foolish for missing the chance, or something like that.”

“They are just ignorant and foolish.”

“That’s why it’s lucky.”

“…Yes?”

The corners of Jang Il-so’s lips turned up. Blood, not fully wiped away by the cloth, smeared across his face. Ho Gamyung felt a sudden chill.

“They need to be reminded that they only need to follow orders. Then there will be no problems. But… what if that is not done in time?”

“…Each would believe their own thoughts are the most correct.”

“Indeed. And what if those weak people are scattered?”

“Why…”

Jang Il-so nodded slowly.

“Yes. They become many leaders. Each believing they are the most correct, each with their own reasons. They even believe it’s the best path for everyone. Isn’t it strange?”

A chill ran down Ho Gamyung’s spine.

Could it be that…

“Alliance. A truly good word. People with different positions and backgrounds united for one cause.”

“Yes.”

“Truly laughable.”

Jang Il-so chuckled. His pale eyes shone with a cruel light.

“People who are only kept down by stronger people pretend to be very ambitious. Those who believe another’s choice was their own, who believe another’s decision was their own, will show their true colors when they are in danger.”

Ho Gamyung looked towards the north.

“Because they made a choice.”

“…”

“To choose means to decide what is important and what is right or wrong. Even those who thought they agreed will realize their differences as they make choices.”

“The world calls it division.”

“Yes. Indeed.”

Jang Il-so smiled gently.

“People are meant to be divided. There is only one way to stop it.”

Jang Il-so glanced at the cold, still body.

“To show them that they cannot choose.”

Ho Gamyung nodded strongly in agreement.

“But those people surely understand this situation.”

“Yes, of course, they understand. That’s why they’ll try to fix it. But…”

Jang Il-so smiled slightly.

“What if those moments of choice happen one after another?”

Ho Gamyung knew the answer for sure.