Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1744

The sound of rustling paper filled the small tent. Ho Gamyeong quickly turned page after page of reports.

‘Insufficient.’

The military provisions were lacking. The supplies were the same.

He was using every method available, but it was nearly impossible to get enough food and supplies from Gangnam to this distant Henan.

If an army, not a martial arts clan, had planned such a large expedition, they would have had to allocate more troops to supplies than to the front lines.

Ho Gamyeong rubbed his temples hard, his fingers digging into the aching skin. *How much longer can we hold out like this?* he wondered, the question a dull throb in his own mind, mirroring the pain in his head. Without proper supplies, they were like a fire burning too fast, consuming itself.

Tear.

Perhaps because his touch was rough, the corner of the cheap paper report tore away. He stared at it blankly before putting the report down and sighing deeply.

What was worse than the inadequate supplies was that getting enough food and supplies from Gangnam was not working as planned.

That meant that from the moment he left, the power of the Mount Hua Sect over Gangnam was rapidly diminishing.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely unexpected, but it was happening too quickly. If this situation continued, the very foundation of the Mount Hua Sect might be shaken.

‘But why……’

Ho Gamyeong’s eyes darkened.

In fact, it wasn’t that there was no solution. Rather, there was a very simple solution.

‘Looting.’

Simply plundering food from the nearby civilians would easily solve the immediate problem.

There was no one in the Demonic Sect who would feel uncomfortable with this. He could guarantee that if the order was given, food and supplies would pile up at a speed that would surprise even Ho Gamyeong.

Of course, even if they managed it thoroughly, there would be some sacrifices, but that was something they had to accept.

The problem was that Jang Ilso, who clearly knew the method, wouldn’t allow it.

‘Sect Leader.’

Until now, Ho Gamyeong had agreed with Jang Ilso’s intentions. The reason the Demonic Sect hadn’t been able to seize the world until now was because they had aimed only for domination, not governance.

Martial artists were, after all, people who lived on the land. In order to solve the problems of eating and sleeping, the cooperation of the civilians was essential.

In that sense, Jang Ilso’s measures to protect the civilians were definitely not wrong. That measure would have been the foundation of the Mount Hua Sect’s power to advance into Gangbuk.

But wasn’t this a different case?

Now was not the time to gather strength, but to gather it all and explode. They had to maintain the best possible power, even if it meant accepting some side effects. But why wouldn’t he allow looting even at a time like this?

Because of goodwill? What a joke. There was no way. He couldn’t even count how many civilians had died at Jang Ilso’s hands. Jang Ilso was someone who would even smile and take the lives of his subordinates who fought to the death if necessary.

In his eyes, the ignorant people who filled the world were no different from insects. And even someone who usually took care not to kill ants would naturally run without looking at their feet if a tiger was chasing them from behind.

Ho Gamyeong recalled Jang Ilso’s resolute eyes. Eyes as smooth and soft as silk, yet cold and unforgiving of dissent.

But even so……

‘I should speak to him again.’

He knew Jang Ilso wouldn’t like it, but it was something Ho Gamyeong had to do.

Ho Gamyeong was about to get up, having made his decision.

“Strategist!”

Suddenly, the tent entrance was violently thrown open, and a lieutenant rushed in. Ho Gamyeong asked coldly.

“What is it?”

“The, the Blood Palace has left the camp.”

“……What?”

Ho Gamyeong’s face showed surprise at the unexpected report.

“What is the Blood Palace Lord doing?”

“It seems that the one leading the Blood Palace is the Blood Palace Lord himself.”

Instantly, Ho Gamyeong’s eyes turned cold.

‘Himself?’

An order not to leave the camp had already been issued under the name of the Mount Hua Sect Leader. But the Blood Palace Lord was personally leading his troops out of the camp?

This was no different from openly defying the order.

But that was why Ho Gamyeong became even more composed than usual.

Even in the urgent situation, he fell into a deep silence, and the lieutenant, who had been waiting anxiously, cautiously urged him.

“Strategist?”

“Wait.”

It wouldn’t be difficult to chase after the Blood Palace Lord. But since he had decided to cause trouble, other people’s words would be meaningless.

Especially now that Ho Gamyeong’s status had fallen due to the previous failure.

He didn’t care about his status, but if he failed to control the Blood Palace Lord even after confronting him, the distrust of the Mount Hua Sect would deepen even further.

‘He must know this and is still moving.’

Ho Gamyeong tapped the document with his fingertip.

Reporting directly to Jang Ilso would also be meaningless. Since the Blood Palace had already disobeyed the order, Jang Ilso would have to punish them accordingly if he stepped in. That was how authority was maintained.

But in the current situation, it was difficult to treat the Blood Palace harshly. It wouldn’t be easy for the current Mount Hua Sect to handle the aftermath.

After a while, but perhaps after an irretrievable amount of time had passed, Ho Gamyeong opened his mouth.

“……Send someone to find out why they are moving.”

“Yes? But Strategist…….”

“……Did you not hear me? Go. Now.”

At Ho Gamyeong’s cold gaze, the lieutenant was startled and bowed.

“I will carry it out immediately.”

Ho Gamyeong, who had glanced at the retreating figure, gritted his teeth.

He knew that his order was just a meaningless formality. But this was all he could do right now.

‘It’s precarious.’

The Blood Palace moving as they pleased, the Sun Palace Lord harboring ill feelings towards the Sect Leader, and even Lord Hao Mun who would be deeply resentful of Ho Gamyeong……

If it weren’t for the strength of the Myriad Man House, *the core fighters of the sect*, and the Black Ghost Legion, *newly joined warriors*, it wouldn’t be strange if they were torn apart right away.

In this situation, Ho Gamyeong could only rely on Jang Ilso’s great control and the naive belief that the Blood Cult wouldn’t want to end up being chased to death by the Righteous Sect, *their enemies outside the Demonic Sect* either.

He felt like he was performing acrobatics on a cliff edge.

“Hoo.”

Ho Gamyeong took a breath and stroked his forehead. First, he had to report to the Sect Leader……

Flap.

But another uninvited guest arrived. Someone opened Ho Gamyeong’s tent and came in. Ho Gamyeong frowned, sensing the presence.

Even though his position had narrowed, he was still the Mount Hua Sect’s strategist. He was definitely not in a position to endure such rude treatment.

‘How dare they.’

Having just heard about the Blood Palace, his pent-up anger surged for a moment. But the moment he identified the person who had entered, Ho Gamyeong regained his composure.

“……What is it?”

The masked man, who had covered his face with black martial robes and a mask, did not answer immediately. Only the cheap iron sword hanging from his waist made a grating metallic noise.

“I asked what is it?”

Ho Gamyeong asked again. The masked man only cast his gaze without speaking this time. His empty eyes were coldly sunken.

Ho Gamyeong had served Jang Ilso for a long time, and had killed countless beasts of the Demonic Sect while walking the path of blood.

But he felt a chill in the masked man’s gaze. It didn’t contain any particularly great or blatant hatred, but there was a coldness that was difficult to gauge even with Ho Gamyeong’s experience.

The masked man finally opened his mouth.

“The letter.”

“……What?”

“The day the letter should have arrived has passed.”

“…….”

Ho Gamyeong stared at the masked man before suddenly rummaging through his desk. Soon, he found a dusty envelope and turned his gaze to the masked man.

“It seems there was a misunderstanding.”

The masked man showed no reaction. It was as if he didn’t want to talk to Ho Gamyeong unless he had to. It was a slightly unpleasant action, but Ho Gamyeong didn’t bother to show it.

He handed over the envelope he was holding as if throwing it.

Thud.

The masked man, who had received the flying envelope, tore open the envelope on the spot. Then, he read the letter inside without blinking an eye, as if he would swallow it whole.

After a long time, the masked man put away the letter. Then, he glanced at Ho Gamyeong and said in a monotonous voice.

“It’s a day late.”

“I said there was a misunderstanding…….”

“If the same thing happens again, you should give up the expectation that your head will be in place. I’ll cut off your master’s head too. Keep that in mind.”

A coldness and mockery flowed in Ho Gamyeong’s eyes.

“Okay, I’ll accept it. It’s not a good owner’s role to kick a dog that barks because it’s not fed on time.”

“…….”

The masked man did not answer. He just gave a contemptuous look for a moment before turning around.

Before he left the tent, Ho Gamyeong added.

“But even a dog has a duty to keep. You can be angry if you’re not fed, but after you eat, you have to wag your tail like a dog. Don’t keep your worthless pride.”

The masked man slowly turned to look at Ho Gamyeong. A blue murderous aura flowed from his eyes. The seething hatred was extraordinary at first glance.

But Ho Gamyeong opened his mouth calmly while receiving that gaze.

“Don’t forget. This is the deal you wanted.”

“…….”

“Or is it not?”

At that, the masked man turned completely to face Ho Gamyeong again and turned his body.

In an instant, a suffocating tension filled the tent. It was so tense that it wouldn’t be strange if someone drew their sword right away.

But after a while, the masked man slowly lowered his head.

Very deeply. It was an excessive movement as if not to be caught in any fault.

Ho Gamyeong stood upright and silently looked down at the back of the masked man who bowed his head.

The masked man, who had finished his exaggerated greeting, slowly raised his body again and quickly left the tent. The tension that had been stretched taut was released in an instant.

Ho Gamyeong breathed out shortly.

It was dangerous to provoke him. But in return for taking the risk, he could gain one conviction.

That they could be ‘trusted.’

It was absurd, but they were trustworthy.

At least until this deal was over, they would be perfect allies. No matter what they went through. Because the price they would get from this deal was too great.

And unless they betrayed him, they still had the upper hand in this war.

“But this alone is not enough.”

Hadn’t Jang Ilso told him?

Even if it was difficult to manage a precarious situation, it wouldn’t be a problem. If the enemy’s situation was more precarious than theirs, the victory would eventually be theirs.

To do that……

Ho Gamyeong’s eyes changed.

“I never thought that something I had prepared just in case would be used like this…….”

That’s why you never know what will happen in the world.

He sat back down and picked up his brush. But his gaze was not on the paper spread out on the desk, but beyond the window in front of him.

Mount Hua. The place where his enemy resided.

“Maybe…… I’ve been thinking too hard all this time.”

Ho Gamyeong’s eyes completely regained their composure.

A dangerous plan was forming in his mind. He dipped his brush in ink, ready to write a letter that could change everything, a letter aimed straight at the heart of Mount Hua.