Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1721

As Ho Gamyung slowed his pace and looked back, he saw the Sapa-ryeon forces following him.

They had lost.

This was clear. Even though they hurt the enemy badly, their own losses were too great.

Since they failed to reach their goal, they couldn’t deny their defeat.

Yet, strangely, the Sapa-ryeon warriors behind him didn’t look like defeated soldiers. Instead, they seemed determined and had a chilling aura.

Ho Gamyung knew where that coldness in their eyes came from.

‘We may have lost, but we haven’t fallen.’ That’s what they must be thinking.

It was a ridiculous idea. To lose for the Sapa-ryeon was the same as Jang Il-so losing. There was no way around that.

But right now, that excuse seemed to give them strength. Others might not know it, but the Sapa-ryeon warriors believed it.

That was probably because…

Ho Gamyung looked at Jang Il-so, who was walking ahead.

‘Did you foresee even this?’

What if Jang Il-so admitted his mistake? What if he punished Ho Gamyung? He could have shown clear rewards and punishments. But that would have been like saying this battle was a complete failure.

Was that why Jang Il-so refused to admit it and used force to stop any disagreement? Even to the point of hurting Chunmyun Soosa.

It didn’t matter if it was right or wrong. Jang Il-so’s actions clearly affected those who felt defeated.

“Lord!”

Knowing this, Ho Gamyung carefully called out to Jang Il-so.

Jang Il-so hadn’t blamed him, but Ho Gamyung knew what he had done.

Jang Il-so glanced at Ho Gamyung.

“Do you have something to say, Gamyung?”

“Lord, Chunmyun Soosa is…”

“Ah.”

Jang Il-so waved his hand, as if shooing away a mosquito. He didn’t seem to want to talk about it.

“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t hurt him too badly, did I?”

“He is smart and understands situations, but he also holds grudges. He will remember this and…”

“Will seek revenge someday, is that what you mean?”

“…Yes.”

Jang Il-so chuckled.

“‘Someday,’ you say. You talk about the future at a time like this, Gamyung. Do you think he will have time for that?”

“……”

“Not only him, but us as well. Such talk of the future is useless.”

Jang Il-so’s long eyes narrowed slightly. A dark feeling seemed to come from the corners of his eyes.

“What matters is now. Or maybe what comes next.”

Ho Gamyung nodded.

Chunmyun Soosa wouldn’t forget what happened, but he couldn’t do anything right now. He had lost too many disciples in this battle.

“But that doesn’t mean the problem is over, Lord.”

“Hmm?”

“It seems the Lord of the Taehyang Palace is very angry with the Lord of the Hao Clan. This is…”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Jang Il-so clicked his tongue, looking annoyed.

“How can they be so narrow-minded? That’s why they are called the Demonic Faction.”

“Shouldn’t we fix this somehow?”

“What for? Leave it be.”

“Lord…”

Ho Gamyung couldn’t speak freely to Jang Il-so right now. But he thought this was very important, enough to speak up even knowing that.

Hadn’t they already lost Man Geumdaebu and Heukryongwang? Now, the Lord of the Hao Clan and the Lord of the Taehyang Palace were important forces that the Sapa-ryeon couldn’t afford to lose.

If the Lord of the Taehyang Palace couldn’t control his anger and started to make Chunmyun Soosa angry, Chunmyun Soosa’s anger, already caused by Jang Il-so, might turn towards the Lord of the Taehyang Palace.

If they were angry and fought each other, it could seriously hurt the Sapa-ryeon.

“Could the Sapa-ryeon fall apart?”

At Ho Gamyung’s question, Jang Il-so looked curious.

“Hmm, Gamyung.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Don’t disappoint me.”

“……”

“I don’t blame those who fail. But I hate those who are crushed by failure and become useless.”

Ho Gamyung lowered his head.

“Falling apart, resentment…”

Jang Il-so smiled deeply.

“Such things don’t matter anymore. All that matters is who survives. Who takes. Who…”

Jang Il-so stopped talking and turned around. He looked at Wudang Mountain, with the light of dawn.

“It is time to end this. I, and he, must fight with everything we have left.”

“Lord.”

Jang Il-so laughed softly.

He said it was time to end it, but that wasn’t really true. It would be more correct to say that there was no time left to waste.

“There is nothing to worry about. Everything is ready. It was bad to lose… but because of that, I got what I needed.”

Ho Gamyung looked surprised.

Something he needed to get? What was it?

But Jang Il-so didn’t seem to want to answer that question. He just smiled, lost in thought.

‘I was wrong, was I…’

Maybe that was true. But.

“Just because I was wrong… doesn’t mean that you are right. Does it?”

A deep sadness filled his eyes.

‘We will meet again soon.’

Maybe they wouldn’t both survive this time. Now, all that was left was the final battle, where only one person would win.

“No, why are those guys…”

Moyong Wi-gyung stared at the Sapa-ryeon, who were leaving Wudang Mountain.

Now that the battle was over, he wanted to cheer. But he was also worried because he didn’t understand why they were leaving so easily.

‘Should we chase them?’

He thought about it as soon as he saw them leaving, but Moyong Wi-gyung shook his head. Those who were still here hadn’t joined forces with the Hwasan, or with the main forces that had climbed the cliff. If they chased them with only the people who were left, they could be attacked.

“Strat…egist.”

Moyong Wi-gyung, confused, called out to Im So-byung. He hesitated because the word ‘strategist’ was hard for him to say.

“Are they really leaving?”

Unlike Moyong Wi-gyung, who was clearly nervous, Im So-byung seemed calm.

“Can’t you see it?”

“N-no, why? They aren’t in such a bad situation right now.”

“War is about morale. And the Demonic Faction are quick to notice things. They must have realized that the Sapa-ryeon intentionally sacrificed the troops on the cliff.”

“……”

“Continuing the battle would only mean more pointless sacrifices. It makes sense to leave and reorganize.”

“Th-then, maybe…”

Moyong Wi-gyung started to ask something, but shook his head.

He wanted to ask if there was a chance of a rebellion within the Sapa-ryeon because of this. But it didn’t seem like there was anyone in the Sapa-ryeon who was strong enough to betray that defeated army.

“No, even so, does this make sense? If they leave like this, they will lose a lot, too?”

Moyong Wi-gyung was also the head of a family. He could see the big picture. Im So-byung answered his question.

“That’s right. They took poison in this battle. A deadly poison that can’t be cured.”

“That’s what I’m saying. But why…”

“Do you know how a poisoned person wins a fight?”

Im So-byung asked the question and then answered it himself.

“By stabbing the opponent in the neck before the poison kills them.”

“Wh-what does that mean… Even if they win, wouldn’t they die in the end? If it’s a poison that can’t be cured. Can that be called a victory?”

Im So-byung glanced at Moyong Wi-gyung.

He wasn’t sure if he could explain it in a way that he would understand. He wouldn’t understand that there are people who don’t care about their lives. That there are those who would smile and give up their lives to destroy something.

“Anyway, one thing is certain.”

Im So-byung took a deep breath and looked at the retreating Sapa-ryeon forces. Or maybe someone beyond them.

“Now they don’t have time either. Maybe… they will now risk everything on a final fight. A total attack with no way out.”

Moyong Wi-gyung’s face turned pale.

They were leaving.

But after hearing Im So-byung’s words, it didn’t seem like a simple retreat. Like the water on the beach before a tsunami, they would come crashing down as an even bigger wave.

“B-but, we are in a good position, right? We hurt them badly this time.”

“I wonder.”

Im So-byung didn’t seem enthusiastic. His eyes even looked dark. Moyong Wi-gyung stared at him.

Im So-byung was thinking about one thing.

‘Why?’

Isolating Hwasan Gumhyup Chungmyung to defeat him. That was the right choice, at least for that battle.

But did Jang Il-so need to do it himself?

Ho Gamyung’s reason was clear. But did Ho Gamyung’s reason match Jang Il-so’s reason?

If so, what was Jang Il-so trying to get from this?

Crack!

Im So-byung’s fan broke in his hand.

‘Ho Gamyung, and Jang Il-so.’

No matter what happened in the war, and no matter what they were trying to get, Im So-byung knew one thing.

That the most bad person in this battle was him.

‘Whatever you are planning… it will be different next time.’

A bright blue fire flashed in his eyes.

“Lord.”

The Blood Palace Lord slowly turned around.

Even though he had re-wrapped the bandages around his face, he still looked unpleasant.

“Is it okay to leave like this?”

“What do you want to say?”

“…It might be okay once, but if we do this again, the Order will lose respect. If they start to look down on the Order…”

The Blood Palace Lord didn’t say anything. Then, the Protector spoke, but hesitated before continuing.

“Also, if people find out that you went into the enemy lines without orders… no, without asking anyone, and then left without a word, the relationship with the Sapa-ryeon will… Ack!”

The Blood Palace Lord grabbed the Protector’s neck tightly. His face was twisted, even with the bandages.

“You talk too much.”

“Lo… Lord… Grk.”

“Do you even know what Seonki means before you talk foolishly? You are like a worm.”

Thud!

The Blood Palace Lord threw the Protector away and glared at him as he gasped for air. He felt very annoyed.

‘Damn it.’

The Protector was right.

‘What should I do…’

He was confused.

“How pathetic.”

A voice came from next to him.