Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 681

“Hmm.”

Jang Il-so smiled faintly, watching the four leaders approach. This was Mount Hua.

He now stood face to face with the leaders of the four great sects, powerful groups that influenced the entire world. Behind them were important elders from the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, groups that were famous everywhere.

A bad person would be very scared to be in this situation.

But Jang Il-so seemed relaxed and didn’t hesitate at all.

He acted as if he were in his own front yard, his face and movements showing complete ease.

Hyun Jong watched him, his eyes moving quickly. His lips were pressed tightly together. It was hard to know what he was thinking. Hyun Jong slowly began to speak.

“Welcome… Clan Lord.”

“…”

Although Hyun Jong’s voice was calm, Hyun Sang, who was usually impossible to stop, immediately became angry.

“Remember, many people are watching.”

“…Un-geom.”

Hyun Sang looked at Un-geom’s face and then at his empty sleeve.

Un-geom had lost his arm and almost died because of those Ten Thousand People Clan bastards. If things had gone slightly differently, he wouldn’t be here now.

Yet Un-geom was holding Hyun Sang back. Hyun Sang felt like his insides were burning. He bit his lip and glared at Jang Il-so.

Of course, Hyun Sang wasn’t the only one who hated Jang Il-so.

The disciples of Mount Hua all had their hands on their sword handles, glaring at him. It was as if they would rush forward and cut off Jang Il-so’s head if they were told to.

The Mount Hua disciples were incredibly angry. They all glared at Jang Il-so, their hands tight on their sword handles. Their anger was so strong, it felt like a wave of heat that could scare anyone. But Jang Il-so didn’t even flinch. He seemed completely calm, as if he didn’t notice.

“How strange.”

He tilted his head a little, like he was confused. He clicked his tongue softly.

“We, the Ten Thousand People Clan, were hurt in the war with Mount Hua. We lost face and are ashamed. But Mount Hua is now famous and praised because of it.”

He shook his head.

“I don’t know why you’re so upset and angry. How can you be called a righteous sect when you’re so harsh? Hmm.”

Hyun Jong took a slow, deep breath.

Each word from Jang Il-so bothered him. But he wasn’t just standing here as the leader of Mount Hua. He was the leader of the Heavenly Union.

Therefore…

Hyun Jong respectfully put his hands together and held them out.

“I greet the Clan Lord of the Ten Thousand People Clan.”

Then Jang Il-so also clasped his hands in return.

“Pleased to meet you.”

After their brief greetings, Hyun Jong asked Jang Il-so with a friendly smile.

“It is a long journey from the Ten Thousand People Clan to this place. What brings you to Mount Hua?”

Jang Il-so’s lips twisted into an evil smile.

“Isn’t the reason obvious?”

“…”

“Of course, I came to celebrate the founding of the Heavenly Union.”

“…Celebrate?”

Jang Il-so nodded grandly.

“I may not be a great man, but I don’t like being petty. How could I not celebrate such an important event in the martial world!”

“…”

“Bring it here!”

“Yes!”

As soon as Jang Il-so spoke, the warriors of the Ten Thousand People Clan, who were behind him, brought something forward.

‘Chests?’

There were three large chests. The crowd was curious and craned their necks to see what was inside.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The chests, big enough to hold a person, were lowered to the ground with a loud sound.

“Open them.”

“Yes!”

As soon as he gave the order, the members of the Ten Thousand People Clan threw open the lids of the chests.

“Oh!”

“Ummm!”

At the same time, the crowd groaned and exclaimed.

Treasure.

The first thing they saw was treasure filling the chest on the far left.

The large chest was filled with shining gold coins that glittered like the sun, mixed with rubies as red as blood and sapphires as blue as the deepest ocean. Even the elders of the Nine Great Sects, who had seen many treasures, were amazed by the enormous quantity.

“Next.”

“Yes!”

Before they could recover from the shock, the second chest was opened. People gasped quietly.

“Gasp!”

“T-that…”

The chest was full of precious swords, their sharpness clear even without taking them out.

‘…Divine weapons!’

‘Good heavens, so many of them.’

‘They say the Ten Thousand People Clan is incredibly wealthy…’

The treasure in the first chest might have been worth more money. But for martial artists, precious swords were priceless. Besides, it was almost impossible to get a precious sword even with a thousand gold coins.

Yet they had brought so many, filling a large chest with them…

Clang.

A member of the Ten Thousand People Clan standing in front of the chest drew the sword on top and showed it off. The beauty of the blade made everyone gasp.

It was clearly no ordinary sword.

The crowd swallowed hard and looked at the third chest. The first two chests were so amazing, they wondered what could be in the last one.

Jang Il-so spoke confidently, as if he would not disappoint them.

“Open it.”

“Yes!”

The lid of the chest was opened roughly. Then, a sweet, strong fragrance of herbs and flowers filled the air. It promised incredible healing and power, and everyone knew what was inside.

‘Elixirs!’

‘All of that…’

They swallowed hard without thinking.

Items of unimaginable value. If the people around the chests weren’t members of the Ten Thousand People Clan, some of them might have already rushed forward. The crowd’s eyes showed clear greed. Their hearts began to beat fast.

“A gift for the founding of the Heavenly Union.”

Jang Il-so looked at Hyun Jong with a relaxed smile.

But Hyun Jong, looking at the wealth Jang Il-so had presented, sighed softly as if he were troubled.

“I am grateful for the Clan Lord’s intentions, but this seems a bit excessive for a founding gift.”

“Excessive?”

Jang Il-so twisted his lips as if he had heard something funny.

“Leader, I am Jang Il-so.”

“…”

“This much of a gift is not at all excessive for me. It is not enough to show my feelings for the Heavenly Union.”

How Hyun Jong took those words wasn’t important. What mattered most was that this display had a big impact on the crowd.

“Besides…”

Jang Il-so smiled and looked at the elders of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families standing behind Hyun Jong.

“Congratulations spoken only with the mouth are not real congratulations. If you truly want to celebrate, you must give something until you regret it. Isn’t that obvious?”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

As soon as Jang Il-so finished speaking, the lids of the chests were closed again. The members of the Ten Thousand People Clan pushed the closed chests right in front of Hyun Jong.

“How is it? Does this show my sincerity in celebrating the founding of the Heavenly Union?”

Hyun Jong stared at Jang Il-so without a word.

Jang Il-so laughed at the steady gaze. Then he said softly.

“Tell me, Leader. Isn’t it funny?”

“…”

“The Ten Thousand People Clan was greatly hurt because of Mount Hua, yet we came all the way here and offered gifts. But you, the leader of Mount Hua, who benefited greatly from the Ten Thousand People Clan, cannot forget his anger from the war and rejects his guest.”

The faces of the Mount Hua disciples twisted in anger at Jang Il-so’s words.

“Can you truly lead the sects under your command as the leader of the Heavenly Union with such behavior?”

“You bastard!”

Cheong-myeong shouted, unable to hold back his anger. Even Baek Cheon, who would normally stop him, was silent this time. Instead, he was gripping his sword, giving off a cold and dangerous feeling.

Jang Il-so’s lips curved even more.

It was clear mockery.

The word ‘arrogant’ fit this situation perfectly. He said he came to celebrate, but everything he said and did was full of ridicule and mockery.

He acted so boldly because he was Jang Il-so.

‘…He’s immense.’

Baek Cheon bit his lip. He felt like his body was being crushed. He had felt this way for a while now.

Baek Cheon didn’t know how cruel or strong Jang Il-so was.

However, he could feel a pressure that he had never felt before. Jang Il-so was overwhelming everyone just by standing there.

It was truly overwhelming.

‘…That’s the Tyrant.’

Many people had scared the disciples of Mount Hua with their name and reputation. But Jang Il-so was the first to make him feel breathless just by being there.

‘Even the Lord of the Demonic Cult cannot compare to his presence…’

His hands trembled slightly. Baek Cheon looked at Cheong-myeong’s back, which was just ahead of him.

His back was still.

What was Cheong-myeong thinking?

At that moment, Jang Il-so spoke again.

“I came to see how great Mount Hua and the Heavenly Union were, but I am disappointed. Ha, I’ve lost interest.”

He slowly looked around at those who were holding their breath, only sending cautious glances. No one dared to meet Jang Il-so’s gaze.

“I’m going back.”

Just as Jang Il-so scoffed and turned to leave, a low voice stopped him.

“Celebration…”

“…”

Jang Il-so stopped and slightly turned his head to look at Hyun Jong, who had spoken.

“As the Clan Lord said, it will not be just words.”

“Hoh?”

Hyun Jong’s voice was calm and showed no emotion.

Although he was the leader of Mount Hua, he had recently been the leader of a third-rate sect. The fact that he was being looked at so directly interested Jang Il-so.

“So I want to ask.”

“…”

“What does the Tyrant wish to see?”

Hyun Jong’s eyes, deep like a lake, met Jang Il-so’s eyes, which burned like a wildfire.

“…Not bad.”

Jang Il-so nodded.

Then he turned to Hyun Jong and spread his arms as if he was pleased. The ornaments on his clothes jingled.

“You asked what I want?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm. What I want…”

A meaningful smile appeared on Jang Il-so’s lips.

“How about this?”

“…?”

“What if our Ten Thousand People Clan…”

His attractive red lips parted slightly.

“Wishes to become brothers of the Heavenly Union, what would the leader do?”

A chilling energy and cold silence, like a sharp blade held to the throat, fell upon Mount Hua.