Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1567

“Dowi…” Namgung Myung groaned, the sound barely escaping his lips.

He stared at his nephew, fighting like a whirlwind. *Never,* he thought. *Never did I think he could fight like this.*

Dowi was talented, everyone knew that. Even if they weren’t family, it was obvious. Almost anyone would agree.

But *this* Dowi… this was someone new. Someone he didn’t recognize.

“You are…” he started to say, but then –

*Paaah!*

In that instant, a sharp Emei piercer flew towards Namgung Myung’s face. He quickly twisted his head to avoid it, and his sword flashed out. He sank the blade into the heart of a bandit, biting down on his lip.

He had been careless for a moment. This wouldn’t do.

“Lord! They’re coming in greater numbers!”

“I know!”

He couldn’t think about feelings now. And definitely not about being proud of Dowi.

He quickly scanned his surroundings.

The bandits, who had scattered in all directions, must have heard about the situation. They were swarming in like ants that had found food.

It was a desperate sight, but Namgung Myung did not waver.

‘This is the ending I knew all along!’

If he had worried about what would happen later and been careful, he would never have reached the Black Dragon King.

To kill the Black Dragon King.

Only by aiming for that one goal, charging forward without worrying about what would happen, had he been able to come this far. He knew very well what the end of a suicide squad attacking a king would be.

“Hold on! No, pierce through! Advance even if a sword is stuck in your back!”

“Yes!”

Namgung Myung tightened his grip on his sword.

Life meant nothing. A humiliating life was worse than a miserable death. That was why he had come this far.

But seeing Namgung Dowi fighting like that, another mission grew in Namgung Myung’s heart.

‘Dowi, at least…!’

Namgung Myung bit his lip tightly and poured his inner strength into his sword, and soon a white aura covered it.

“Ooooooh!”

The white sword energy swept away the bandits in front of him all at once.

“Pierce through!”

Namgung Myung’s eyes were bloodshot.

At the same time.

“We have information that Namgung has gone to the Jang River. They should have met the Surochae by now!”

“The Mount Hua Sect Leader’s proxy and others are following behind them!”

“Under Tang Soso’s orders, medical people have been sent for support. Also, some of the Dang Clan’s groups have sent reports that they will move towards the Jang River first!”

“We are not really in contact with Jongnam! We will ask them again!”

Listening to the reports, Tang Gunak looked worried.

‘In the end….’

The reports talked about ‘predictions,’ but he was sure.

By now, the Namgung Clan had charged into the Surochae without thinking about what would happen.

Just as Namgung Hwang had ignored everyone and crossed the Jang River.

Tang Gunak knew the Five Great Families best. So, he knew this would happen.

People said the Hobaek Peng Clan was quick to act, but that was just about how they seemed. When it came to making decisions, the Namgung Clan was the most extreme and daring.

Tang Gunak clenched and unclenched his fist quickly.

They said history repeats itself, but he never thought it would happen again so soon.

Was this the Namgung Clan’s fault? Or was it the fault of those who had not prepared for this?

Or….

“We’ve been tricked completely.”

Im So-byeong said with a stiff face.

“…The Green Forest King.”

“‘Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never lose.’ It’s a simple idea, almost too simple to be called a strategy.”

Im So-byeong seemed calmer than expected, though he looked sad.

But Tang Gunak could tell. He had seen deep humiliation in his eyes, even behind the fan.

“The Evil Sects knew Namgung better than we did.”

Tang Gunak was quiet. This was what he had worried about most.

This was clearly planned.

Pushing unimportant people into Anhui was probably done because they knew the Namgung Clan would be drawn in.

And even leading the Surochae, an enemy that the Namgung Clan could never ignore, towards Anhui was also part of the plan.

The moves had been hard to understand when they were happening, but now it was clear.

Tang Gunak’s face twisted slightly.

‘Have I become so bad at this?’

He had not responded to such an obvious trick. He had never said he was brilliant, but he thought he was not bad, yet now he felt doubt and shame.

At that moment, Hyun Jong, who had been quiet, spoke.

“It can’t be just that.”

“…Sect Leader.”

“We must be calm. Jang Il-so knows more than just the Namgung Clan. He knew that our Heavenly Union would have to react this way. He knew us better than we knew ourselves.”

“…”

“From our view, it was a decision made after much thought, but to him, all of that was…”

Hyun Jong did not finish. He sighed, filled with helplessness and worry.

Im So-byeong’s hand, holding the fan, tightened.

“…You are exactly right.”

There was no denying it now. Even if they had not been badly hurt yet, Jang Il-so had been playing the world since the Evil Sects began crossing the Jang River.

By that evil enemy who had calmly set up camp in the Jangjiajie.

“We must think. What is he trying to do?”

Im So-byeong gritted his teeth so hard that he made a sound.

“We cannot change what has happened. But if we keep missing his goal, we will suffer damage beyond what we can imagine.”

“…What is he trying to do?”

Tang Gunak’s voice was rougher than usual.

“Isn’t it obvious? To draw in those who will spread throughout Gangbuk.”

“And?”

“He also wants to keep the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, who were going to help Hubei, stuck in that place.”

“…And?”

“And what?”

“So, he wants to destroy some of the forces of Mount Hua, the Namgung Clan, and the Dang Family?”

Tang Gunak stopped talking.

“That’s…”

“And in return, he gives up the Surochae? He risks the life of the Black Dragon King for just that?”

In fact, it wasn’t ‘just that.’

Some might disagree, but if the forces of Mount Hua, the Namgung Clan, and the Sichuan Dang Family could be destroyed in exchange for the Surochae, it would be a good deal.

Especially if Chung Myung and the Five Swords were part of the Mount Hua forces.

But everyone here knew. That would never happen. As long as Chung Myung was there, the worst thing they could imagine would not occur.

“Even though he lost one arm, the Black Dragon King is important to the Evil Sects, who don’t have many strong leaders. Jang Il-so is not foolish enough to risk such a person in an uncertain gamble.”

Tang Gunak agreed. Im So-byeong continued.

“Jang Il-so’s actions have been hard to predict and impossible to understand. And that’s not just because Jang Il-so’s plans are smart.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s because that bastard has been losing since the war started.”

Tang Gunak’s face hardened.

It was like a weight lifted from his chest. Im So-byeong was saying what he had been feeling but couldn’t say.

“Numbers are important, but they can’t be everything. Yet he sent those troops into a death trap, and he also pushed one of their strongest forces, the Surochae, into the same place. What did the Evil Sects gain?”

Everyone looked stiff, unable to answer.

Nothing.

There was nothing.

At best, the lives of ordinary people. And the chaos in Gangbuk.

That was just psychological damage that did not really affect the power of the Nine Sects or the Heavenly Union.

Jang Il-so had been making mistakes.

Was that even possible? That Jang Il-so?

“…Then what is he trying to do?”

“I don’t know. Of course, I can’t know. However…”

Im So-byeong spat out.

“I am sure that he is not a man who does things at a loss. If so, then he must now be trying to fix the losses he has made…”

At that moment.

“Sect Leader!”

A person rushed in, as if the door had broken open. The senior members of the Heavenly Union were not surprised, as this happened often.

But with the new report, all the leaders stood up quickly.

“Ma, Maninbang! Tyrant Ja, Jang Il-so has moved!”

A heavy tension struck like the cold wind in the Bukhae Canyon. Everyone in the room was silent and looked at one person.

Amidst the stares, Im So-byeong said.

“At a moment like this…”

A drop of sweat ran down his face.

“Hmm.”

A low hum sounded.

The fabric of his clothes brushed softly.

The red robe, with black silk, was very fancy, like a woman’s gown.

Wearing a large crown, he was covered in ornaments.

A white finger slowly moved the tassels in front of the crown. The beads made a clear sound.

“It’s a fine day.”

A white face and red lips were seen as the screen was lifted.

The Lord of the Evil Sects, Tyrant Jang Il-so. He looked up at the sky and nodded. He seemed happy.

“Yes, it’s a fine day, isn’t it? Don’t you think?”

The screen fell back down.

“A stroll is best on days like these. We’ll be going a little further this time… so it will be even more fun, don’t you think?”

Jang Il-so looked back at those behind him.

Unlike him, who was relaxed, they were ready and tense.

“Yes, Lord!”

“Haha!”

Jang Il-so laughed and looked ahead. Gangbuk was before him.

“Everyone, follow me closely. You might get lost if you’re not careful.”

Jang Il-so’s foot moved forward.

The foot, in red silk shoes, was lifted and lowered.

It was just one step, but it was big.

“It’s a pity I don’t have an instrument. Shout. Singing would be good too. Anything is fine. Those children far away need to know we’re coming, don’t they?”

Jang Il-so’s lips twisted into a smile.

“That’s how… it will be fun.”

Jang Il-so, in red, moved at the front of the Evil Sects. He was like a drop of blood on a black sword.

The destination was Gangbuk.

A place they had never been allowed to go.