Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1606

“A hundred?”

Tang Gunak muttered. He sounded like he couldn’t believe it.

“More than a hundred masters…”

He didn’t say anything back quickly or show he didn’t believe them. The mood in the room had just become peaceful again.

“More details.”

Chung Myung spoke, pushing him to say more. Then, Mo Yong Wi-kyung swallowed hard and opened his mouth.

“There’s nothing more to say. That’s all there is to it. They suddenly blocked our way, slowed us down, and then left. They didn’t do much else at the end. It was like they just wanted to waste our time.”

Im So-byung’s gaze turned slightly cold.

“So? Even though their intentions were obvious, you just watched them run away?”

“Then what should we have done?”

It wasn’t Mo Yong Wi-kyung, but Je Gal-jain who reacted to that sharp question.

“It’s not smart to attack without thinking when we don’t know who they are or how strong they are. Especially when our mission isn’t to defeat them, but to rescue the main force!”

Im So-byung opened and closed his fan quickly. He looked annoyed. Then, he nodded, but he didn’t seem happy about it.

He wasn’t pleased, but Je Gal-jain’s words made sense. Even if the Je Gal and Mo Yong families had fought as hard as they could, it wouldn’t have changed anything.

If the enemy was as strong and mysterious as they said…

“A force capable of stalling against the Je Gal and Mo Yong families…”

The faces of the two family heads turned slightly red when someone muttered this. It was a humiliating statement, but also true, so they couldn’t offer any rebuttal.

A brief silence fell upon the conference room. Baek Cheon, who had been assessing the situation in silence, spoke up.

“You said they were wearing masks?”

Everyone’s attention focused on him.

“That is correct.”

“That’s a bit odd, isn’t it?”

“What do you mean?”

Je Gal-jain asked somewhat sharply. No matter that the other party was the acting leader of Hwasan, he was barely thirty. He couldn’t be pleased to be questioned, even if it wasn’t quite an interrogation.

“Masks, huh? Doesn’t that mean they’re hiding who they are?”

“Indeed.”

“But is there really a need to do that? They’re part of the Demonic Sect anyway. Aren’t they people we wouldn’t recognize even if they showed their faces?”

Je Gal-jain reacted suddenly to those words, like he was surprised.

“…Some factions within the Demonic Sect use masks as a standard practice.”

“Yes, what the family head says is correct. But isn’t it too strange that nearly a hundred masters were all wearing masks?”

Je Gal-jain fell silent.

He hadn’t noticed it at the time because he was flustered, but now that he thought about it, it was definitely strange.

Usually, those with skill aren’t afraid to reveal their identities. But the ones he faced had hidden their identities despite possessing such skill.

“Strategist.”

Baek Cheon turned to Im So-byung. Im So-byung would know the ways of the Demonic Sect best, so it was right to ask him.

Im So-byung looked at Baek Cheon. He tapped his fan on his neck, like he was thinking hard.

“Hmm, usually, assassins who eliminate internal enemies might hide their identities to prevent retaliation if they’re exposed. If that became a habit, it wouldn’t be entirely unreasonable…”

But he trailed off and shook his head.

“No, still, I don’t think that’s it. If they had so many strong fighters just to control their own people, the Demonic Alliance would have taken over the world a long time ago. And in the first place, the Demonic Alliance wouldn’t have needed to fight for power in that way.”

Baek Cheon opened his mouth with a grim expression.

“Then there’s only one conclusion. They were people who needed to conceal their identities from us.”

A chilling coldness spread through the conference room in an instant.

Everyone had their own feelings about this, but everyone understood what Baek Cheon meant.

“Do you know what you’re implying?”

Je Gal-jain asked with a somewhat flustered expression. He clearly felt uneasy.

Baek Cheon simply continued in a calm tone.

“Before that, let me ask one more thing. Was there anything distinctive about the martial arts they used?”

“…Not really.”

Because he asked so calmly, Je Gal-jain answered almost unconsciously.

“What about the weapons they used?”

“That was the same. Swords, sabers, spears, and even fists. All sorts of things were mixed together. I tried to figure it out, but it was impossible to identify any characteristics from the weapons.”

Im So-byung asked as if he had caught onto something.

“You mean there were all sorts of weapons?”

“That’s right.”

“A group moving together under such an important order?”

Je Gal-jain lost his words for a moment. He understood what Im So-byung was pointing out.

Blocking the path of the Je Gal and Mo Yong families was an important operation that could determine the outcome of that massive battlefield.

If so, the Demonic Alliance would have carefully selected those who would take on that mission.

Even if they combined several martial forces, they would have at least tried to match similar styles to avoid disagreements. But…

“It was strange… the weapons were mixed up too much. It was like… they were trying to hide who they were by using weapons they weren’t used to.”

Je Gal-jain started to mutter, like he was just starting to understand.

“It was difficult to identify any distinctive features in the martial arts they used. I only knew they were masters because their inner strength was powerful and their techniques were refined, but there was no clear style…”

Je Gal-jain’s face gradually hardened.

His subtly trembling gaze turned to Baek Cheon. Soon, everyone naturally fixed their gaze on Baek Cheon.

In a moment of silence, most simply waited for Baek Cheon to speak next. Mo Yong Wi-kyung, even while all this was happening, thought this whole situation was strange.

‘The first disciple of Hwasan, who can’t be more than thirty years old…’

People of this status are paying attention to him. Where in the world could you see such a sight?

Finally, Baek Cheon’s next words flowed out.

“…Then, in the end, there’s only one conclusion.”

“No, wait a moment!”

Je Gal-jain shouted, sounding scared.

“D-Do you know what you’re about to say, Acting Leader?”

“I don’t want to think about it, but if that’s the only conclusion, it’s something we need to consider carefully.”

“No!”

Je Gal-jain’s hand trembled slightly.

This young acting leader of Hwasan was acting recklessly, as if he had no regard for the consequences. Didn’t he understand how much his next words would change things?

Finally, Je Gal-jain shouted. He was angry and scared at the same time.

“Hold your tongue, Acting Leader!”

Baek Cheon looked at Je Gal-jain with calm eyes. And he spoke in a somewhat heavy voice.

“If the Demonic Alliance had that much power from the beginning, they wouldn’t have waged the war in this way.”

Je Gal-jain bit his lip without a word. It was because he couldn’t deny it.

“So, there are only two possibilities. One is that the situation the Je Gal family head and the Mo Yong family head described is false.”

“Watch your…”

“But that’s impossible. Isn’t it?”

Jegeal Jarin nodded, his anger just below the surface.

“Then there’s only one thing left it could be…”

Silence filled the room. Some faces showed understanding, others confusion.

Even Baek Cheon, who started the talk, hesitated. The words seemed stuck in his throat.

Finally, Chung Myung spoke. He was never one to hold back his words.

“Then…” Chung Myung began. All eyes turned to him.

“…So, Martial Uncle, are you saying…” Chung Myung looked at Baek Cheon, and Baek Cheon met his gaze.

“It can’t be a new group we don’t know. And Jang Ilso couldn’t hide a big force like that in the Evil Sect.”

Baek Cheon nodded.

“If they were new, they wouldn’t hide who they are. So, it must be people we already know.”

In the silence, Chung Myung continued.

“Therefore.”

He paused, and the air in the room seemed to thicken.

“There is a traitor…”

Chung Myung looked around at everyone in the room. People’s shoulders tightened under his cold stare.

“Among us.”

“……”

“Right?”

Chung Myung asked simply. Baek Cheon nodded slowly.

Traitor.

The word hit everyone like a punch.

Then, Jonglyeogok, the Sect Leader of Jongnam, spoke, his voice sharp.

“Nonsense!”

His voice was like a growl.

“Your idea is ridiculous! Betrayal? Are you saying someone we know, a sect we trust, has betrayed us and become Jang Ilso’s follower?”

“Well, maybe not a dog, but working with them…”

“It’s the same thing!” Jonglyeogok interrupted Baek Cheon, annoyed.

“If you twist things around, you can make anything sound true.”

“Sect Leader, but this is…”

“Enough!” Jonglyeogok interrupted, waving his hand dismissively.

“This isn’t a place for kids to make silly arguments. People who don’t know what they’re talking about should be quiet. Alliance Leader, you should stop these foolish words.”

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed, ready to argue back. But before he could speak, someone else interrupted Jonglyeogok.

“Sect Leader, of course, you are right,” Jin Geum-ryong said. “But I don’t think we can ignore this idea. From what I’ve seen, the Mount Hua Sect Leader’s representative has good ideas.”

Jonglyeogok stared at Jin Geum-ryong, his eyes narrowed. He seemed surprised to hear someone disagree with him. Usually, no one dared to. But Jonglyeogok didn’t get angry because…

“…Do you think there’s something to what he’s saying?” Jonglyeogok asked, his voice tight.

“Yes,” Jin Geum-ryong replied.

Jin Geum-ryong nodded calmly and added. “Even if an idea sounds crazy, if it’s the only thing that makes sense, we have to think about it. It might be true. Although it is absurd… what the Mount Hua Sect Leader’s representative said makes sense.”

Jonglyeogok’s face stiffened. He understood Jin Geum-ryong’s point, but he didn’t want to believe it.

“Betrayal…”

“……”

“Who?”

Jonglyeogok’s voice rose. You could hear the doubt, anger, and disbelief in his tone.

“Who… who betrayed us? Who would do this!” Jonglyeogok demanded. Silence was the only answer. Everyone was afraid to speak.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

In the bright midday sun, a man walked towards a large building. He wore a black mask.

At the entrance of the grand building, he glared at the guards blocking the door. The guards watched him nervously, their faces tense.

“I need to see the strategist,” the masked man said, his voice hoarse.

The guards shook their heads, their faces cold.

“Not possible. Go away.”

But the masked man didn’t move. He put his hand on the sword at his waist and stared hard at the guards.

The air crackled with tension.

“Let him in,” a calm voice said from inside.

The guards stepped back, one by one.

The door creaked open.

“Come in.”

“What?” Hogamyeong asked, still writing without looking up.

“…I need to see the Sect Leader.”

“Sect Leader is busy.”

“Hogamyeong.”

The sound of writing stopped. Hogamyeong’s brush paused on the paper.

“Do you think you can order us around?” Hogamyeong finally looked up. He and the masked man stared at each other.

“Keep your word,” the masked man said, his voice low. “Or you’ll regret it.”

Hogamyeong looked at him for a moment, then looked down again and started writing.

“I’ll tell him,” Hogamyeong said, dismissing him. “Now leave.”

The masked man stared at Hogamyeong for a long moment before turning and leaving. Hogamyeong watched him go, then chuckled. His laugh was full of scorn.

“A dog…” he muttered. Then he laughed louder. “At least a dog is loyal.”

Hogamyeong put down his brush and stood up slowly.