Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 793

“You’ve worked hard, Clan Lord.”

“Hmm.”

Ho Gamyeong smiled, watching Jang Il-So nod slightly.

“No, I should call you Union Lord now.”

“Union Lord sounds embarrassing! Forget it.”

Jang Il-So didn’t like big shows. He waved his hand to say ‘no’ and looked a little uncomfortable. But Ho Gamyeong kept smiling widely.

“Please, ascend.”

“Hmm.”

Jang Il-So slowly walked and got into the carriage pulled by four white horses. The carriage was perfect for a powerful man like him. It was decorated richly outside and even more fancy inside.

Jang Il-So climbed into the carriage. Ho Gamyeong quickly looked around outside, then followed him inside. As soon as they sat down on the soft, velvet seats, the four white horses outside started to run. The carriage lurched forward.

Ho Gamyeong, who was usually calm, was almost bouncing with excitement. “Looks like everything went well, Clan Lord,” he said, his voice a little higher than usual.

Jang Il-So just nodded slightly. “We were lucky.”

“Lucky, yes,” Ho Gamyeong agreed, “but it’s more than that. You planned this for so long.” He knew how much Jang Il-So had worked to make this happen. Years of effort were finally paying off.

“This is just one step.”

But Jang Il-So waved his hand, covered in jewelry, and said,

“They bow their heads and act like they agree, but those snake-like guys will never follow me if they don’t want to. They just want to use me and Myriad Man Manor while they do their own thing.”

Being the Union Lord of a *new* alliance was different. It wasn’t about real power yet, but about future problems.

To keep the alliance working, everyone needed to agree. But no one wanted to give up their power. It was clear that Myriad Man Manor would lose out.

The fact that they said they would become the Union Lord was just for show. If they were really asked to do it, they would all refuse.

This alliance was like a throne built from poisonous snakes. It was dangerous and unstable. Even a small mistake could lead to deadly fangs tearing everything apart.

“But, isn’t this what you were aiming for, Chief?”

“Gamyeong-ah.”

“Yes, Clan Lord.”

“I told you before, right? You don’t get anything without taking risks.”

Jang Il-So smiled.

“Well-fed pigs are happy with leftover rice. But a hungry wolf is never happy with just scraps. Hunting is always dangerous.”

Jang Il-So ran his finger across his lips. His blood-red lips seemed to glow.

“If you want something as important as life, then risking your life is normal.”

“That is very true.”

Ho Gamyeong looked at Jang Il-So differently now.

It was amazing.

Since the war with the Demonic Sect, the different groups had never joined together to make one force. A group of different groups was starting for the first time in a hundred years. And Jang Il-So and Myriad Man Manor had become the Union Lord.

Jang Il-So was the youngest and least experienced of the Shinju Opae leaders. Ho Gamyeong thought it was normal, but others wouldn’t.

But Jang Il-So didn’t seem happy, even after doing something so big. He was calm, like he deserved it.

Jang Il-So was already looking ahead. He didn’t care about what he already had. Jang Il-So was always looking for the next thing to get, even before he was done with what he had.

“Thanks to those young kids from Mount Hua, the plan is moving faster by five years… No, ten years.”

“That is correct.”

“Do they know that I went to say congrats to the Cheonwu Alliance? Haha! Hahahahaha!”

Jang Il-So laughed, holding his stomach.

It was a strange feeling, happy but also worried.

The Jianghu world was like still water. Everyone had enough. So no one had to take risks.

The Cheonwu Alliance had messed up the balance of power in the Jianghu, which had been so peaceful.

His plan would have taken ten more years. But because of the Cheonwu Alliance… No, because of Mount Hua, he could do so much now.

“It’s great and happy, but… It’s also really dangerous. I had to move because I couldn’t miss the chance, but I’m not ready yet.”

“The more dangerous it is, the bigger the reward.”

“That’s right, that’s right. You get me, Gamyeong.”

He had put four poisonous snakes in his stomach.

If he didn’t make them happy, the poisonous snakes would bite his stomach and try to get out. Then, Jang Il-So would have to give up his life.

But…

‘They will find out soon.’

Jang Il-So’s stomach acid was also melting them.

“We’ll see who gets to use it.”

Jang Il-So’s blood-red lips opened a little, showing his white teeth. They were sharp and scary.

“Let’s go.”

“Are you going in person?”

“Gamyeong-ah.”

“Yes, Clan Lord.”

“Never forget a grudge. But remember to be grateful too.”

Ho Gamyeong looked at Jang Il-So, confused.

“If someone is kind to us, shouldn’t we be kind back?”

“…That is correct, but… Then?”

“I have to pay them back. It might not be enough, but I have to.”

Jang Il-So chuckled.

“Of course, they might not like my gift, but it’s important to show I care.”

Ho Gamyeong nodded, seeing Jang Il-So’s smile.

Sometimes, he felt like he wasn’t a good enough strategist.

He was great at using his mind, and he could shake anyone. But there was only one person, Jang Il-So, whose thoughts he couldn’t understand.

But Ho Gamyeong wasn’t worried about this.

Jang Il-So was Jang Il-So. He was not someone you could judge like a normal person.

Ho Gamyeong looked at Jang Il-So, who had closed his eyes and was thinking hard. Ho Gamyeong didn’t want to bother Jang Il-So’s thoughts, so he held his breath.

Jang Il-So, with his eyes closed, pressed his fingers on his temples.

‘Now it begins.’

It was just the first step. There was still a long way to go. And the path would be hard. The path was so hard, it would hurt your skin and bones just to walk on it.

But, thinking about what he would get by walking that path, Jang Il-So could walk through fire with a smile, not just a hard path.

The hungry never stop.

And Jang Il-So would never stop being hungry for more.

“No fight?”

“It seems so.”

Chung Myung grabbed Im Sobyung by the neck and shook him hard.

“What do you mean? If those dirty unorthodox guys and those despicable orthodox guys are together, they should be fighting! Why aren’t they fighting, why! I made it perfect for them!”

“Ggrk. L-Let go of this!”

“No! They should be hitting and killing each other! That’s how I get to suck the marrow!”

Baek Cheon sighed, hearing those mean words.

“Chung Myung-ah…”

“Huh?”

“You shouldn’t say things like that where others can hear you.”

“Ah.”

Baek Cheon couldn’t say that a Taoist shouldn’t think like that anymore.

‘He’s like a leech.’

Dirty unorthodox guys and despicable orthodox guys. Does he even like anyone in that head of his?

“Cough! Cough! That’s… The Surochae guys run away when they see the orthodox guys!”

“Can’t you chase them? Did those Shaolin guys forget how to be fast? Where’s that bald monk? He’s never around when I need him!”

“Being fast doesn’t matter. How can we follow them when they go on boats?”

“Then we have to chase them on boats!”

“…Then won’t the pirates attack and destroy the boats? What will happen then?”

“What do you mean, what will happen? It’ll be great! All those bald monks will fall into the water, and that day will be a party!”

“…”

Im Sobyung looked at Chung Myung blankly, then looked weakly at Baek Cheon.

Baek Cheon couldn’t look him in the eye and looked down.

‘I’m sorry.’

A mountain bandit who makes money by tricking people is questioning a disciple from a famous group. It’s crazy, but Chung Myung makes it impossible to argue.

“Anyway, that… No, put me down first. Anyway… It seems those guys have left Surochae and gone to the Yangtze River.”

“They can’t keep doing that, can they?”

“Probably by now… Yes, they’re going to the Black Dragon Unit because they need a place to go.”

“Huh? The Black Dragon Unit?”

Im Sobyung nodded.

“It’s like the Green Unit of the Eighteen Units of the Yangtze River. But, the Green Unit moves around, and the Black Dragon Unit is where the power of the Yangtze River Units is. The Black Dragon King is not a leader like me, but more like a king.”

“So they were told to go there?”

“No. That’s just what bandits and pirates do. Even if they’re told to take care of themselves, they go where they can get help. I don’t know if they want help or they don’t want to die alone.”

“…Are they crazy?”

“That’s what all thieves are like. Tsk tsk, uneducated guys.”

Baek Cheon closed his eyes.

You are that thief.

“Anyway, so they’re going to the Black Dragon Unit now?”

“That’s what I think.”

“Shaolin and Wudang are going there too?”

“Probably, don’t you think?”

Chung Myung nodded, letting go of Im Sobyung’s collar.

“Then we have to go! Sasuk!”

“…Why?”

“Why, you ask? Tell the Sect Leader to get the kids ready! We’re going to the Black Dragon Unit!”

“Why there…”

“Why? If the pirates and orthodox guys are at the Black Dragon Unit, there’s going to be a big fight!”

“…Stop calling them orthodox guys.”

If you keep doing that, we’ll look like the bad guys!

“If there’s a big fight and we’re just watching, what will people say! We made it happen, and if they use it all, I won’t be able to sleep! Get ready!”

“Are you going to fight, then?”

Baek Cheon asked seriously. The word “battle” made him excited. But then.

“No.”

“…Huh?”

“We’re just going to watch? Why should we join in when they’re killing each other?”

Chung Myung ruined Baek Cheon’s excitement.

Baek Cheon, looking sad, asked weakly.

“…Didn’t you just say we shouldn’t just watch?”

“It’s okay there. People won’t see it, so it’s enough to say Mount Hua was there.”

“…”

“Just be nice to the beggars and tell them to say we fought hard too. Or we can get the pirates to say it. Who wouldn’t believe they were attacked?”

“We can say it well too. Hee hee hee hee.”

“That’s right! Hee hee hee hee!”

Chung Myung and Im Sobyung laughed together, like hell was here.

“Get some snacks and drinks ready. Drinking while watching others fight is the best!”

“…”

“Hee hee hee hee! I hope they all die! Hee hee hee hee!”

Baek Cheon looked up at the sky. It was clear and peaceful.

‘Primal Celestial Lord.’

I need help now.

Please, do something about this guy…

Please…