Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 806

“…The Wicked Path Alliance?” Namgung Hwang spoke with a stiff expression.

“The Wicked Path Alliance, you say?”

Jang Il-so nodded calmly. “It’s a new name, but one no one can ignore. The Janggang River Eighteen Bandit Groups, the Black Demon Fortress, the Hao Gate, and the Myriad Evils Manor will all gather under this name.”

“…So, the Wicked Path has formed an alliance?” A hundred years ago, during the war with the Demonic Sect, the Wicked Path formed an alliance, but it was temporary, just to survive. It wasn’t a real alliance.

Are you saying these enemies are now working together?

It’s normal for leaders of good groups to meet. It’s also normal for leaders of powerful families to meet.

‘But no one would believe these four Wicked Path leaders would ever work together!’

Namgung Hwang snorted loudly, trying not to look weak.

“Is it such a big deal that the Wicked Path rabble have banded together!”

“Indeed.” Jang Il-so smiled faintly.

Jang Il-so smiled. “Maybe it’s not a big deal to a powerful family leader like you. But we are serious about this alliance. Shouldn’t you at least say congratulations?”

“⋯⋯.” Namgung Hwang stared angrily, not saying anything.

“Hmm. You don’t seem to want to. That’s a shame.” But that gaze did not make Jang Il-so flinch.

Jang Il-so seemed relaxed and calm, even his movements were slow and easy.

Jang Il-so’s calmness made him feel uneasy. Something felt wrong.

Heo Do-jin glanced subtly behind him.

‘Trapped.’

When they entered this narrow valley, they thought it was a natural fortress for defense. But now, it seemed more difficult to get out than to get in.

‘If we fight here, it will be a disaster.’

But there was no way they could wait. Because the enemies would be aiming for their backs.

‘The retreat was meaningless from the start.’

Running away only works if you *can* run away.

Understanding the situation, Heo Do-jin looked at Jang Il-so.

“The Wicked Path Alliance… Any alliance is a good thing. May I offer my congratulations?”

Jang Il-so nodded. “Thank you for congratulating us, leader of Wudang. It means a lot.”

“I’m glad you’re pleased. But, Warlord Jang,” Heo Do-jin’s gaze pierced through Jang Il-so.

“You don’t look like you’re here to be congratulated. If you want congratulations, you should come down here to talk to us, not stand up there looking down on us.”

“Hahaha.” Jang Il-so laughed cheerfully and nodded.

“That’s right. That’s right. You’re right.”

“⋯⋯.”

“That’s the right thing to do. But what can I do? I’m just a bad guy who doesn’t know manners. Would it be silly to start being polite now?”

“Surely the leader of the Wicked Path Alliance isn’t scared, is he?”

“Haha. You’re stating the obvious. Of course, I’m scared.” Jang Il-so’s pale face twisted cruelly.

“Shaolin, Wudang, Namgung, and Qingcheng. How can I not be afraid when facing such great sects? Even now, my legs are trembling, and it’s hard to stand. Haha!”

Heo Do-jin’s face turned cold.

‘That bastard⋯⋯.’

It was an attempt to scratch his pride, but it didn’t work at all. Usually, when someone becomes a leader, they care a lot about how they look to others, even if they are naturally bad people.

But Jang Il-so didn’t care about appearances at all.

Heo Do-jin knew well that this kind of person is the most difficult to deal with.

“Then⋯⋯,” He glared at Jang Il-so with cold eyes.

“It seems you’ve only come to say hello.” His voice became harsher. This showed he was getting worried and losing his calm.

“Greetings⋯⋯,” Jang Il-so slowly stroked his chin with his white hand.

“Shouldn’t *you* be saying that? You came into *our* land and used your swords without asking.”

“I didn’t know we needed permission to get rid of bandits.”

“Haha. That’s right. There’s no need to get permission. Yes, that’s how it was. Until now.” Jang Il-so looked down at Heo Do-jin, his eyes shining with arrogance.

“But now you need to ask *me* for permission. From Jang Il-so.”

Heo Do-jin gritted his teeth.

Who would have dared to say such a thing to him?

“Get permission?” He gripped the sword at his waist tightly.

“What if I don’t?”

“Haha. You ask the obvious. Of course, you’ll have to pay the price, won’t you?”

At that moment, Namgung Hwang, who had been listening from the side, roared as if he couldn’t stand it any longer.

“You little brat, you’re all talk! If you’re so confident, come down and take my sword!”

“Hmm.” Jang Il-so looked around at everyone with a strange expression and tilted his head.

“It seems you don’t understand what’s happening here.” Then he nodded as if it was understandable.

“Maybe you don’t understand. You are from Shaolin, Wudang, Namgung, and Qingcheng. You are strong and never back down from a fight. Also, this cliff is a good place to defend.”

They can’t escape.

But they are not attacked either.

Even if they shot arrows, rolled rocks, or poured hot oil, it probably wouldn’t hurt these powerful fighters much.

‘Besides, there are remnants of the Black Dragon Unit here.’

Quite a few people died, but more than two-thirds are still alive. Ignoring them and pouring out a wide-ranging attack is something that even the Wicked Path cannot choose to do.

In the end, it means that they have to come down the cliff to attack.

Even though they are very powerful, we can still beat them in a direct fight. They probably couldn’t bring all their forces with them because they came in a hurry.

Jang Il-so also knew their thoughts exactly.

“But…” Jang Il-so’s pale face twisted into a cruel smile.

“That’s because you’re taking this Jang Il-so too lightly. It seems you need to understand your situation.”

In that instant, Heo Do-jin’s heart turned cold.

Jang Il-so lightly snapped his fingers.

Snap.

A sharp sound spread through the valley.

‘⋯⋯What is it?’ Heo Do-jin looked up at the cliff nervously. It was clear that Jang Il-so had sent some kind of signal, but there was no movement. A heavy silence fell.

‘A bluff?’ No, that can’t be⋯⋯.

It was then.

Rumble.

“⋯⋯.”

A deep, scary rumbling sound started. It wasn’t very loud, but in the quiet valley, everyone could hear it.

“What⋯⋯.”

KABOOOOM!

Then, a huge explosion shook the air.

Then, something impossible happened.

One side of the cliff they were occupying exploded. Dust and dirt exploded into the air, and pieces of rock flew everywhere like fireworks.

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!

“That⋯⋯.”

Even Heo Do-jin, a powerful master, could only stare in shock.

Then, the side of the cliff where the explosion happened started to break and lean over.

His mind went blank for a moment.

Rumble!

The huge rock, which was above the four groups, started to fall faster and faster.

“Ugh, ugh⋯⋯. Aargh!”

“Get out of the way!”

These were brave warriors who weren’t afraid to die. But now, they screamed and ran in panic.

They were loyal and would die for their friends. But when they saw the giant rock falling, they panicked. They pushed away anyone in their way to save themselves.

It was too much to take in.

It was beyond anything they could understand. Even Heo Do-jin, the powerful master, was stunned. He just stared, not knowing what to do.

“Aaaargh!”

Unexpectedly, it was Namgung Hwang who moved first.

Namgung Hwang used his sword. A powerful energy came from it, even stronger than when he destroyed the ship before. He roared loudly and swung his sword.

Crack!

His sword energy hit the rock. It was very powerful and left a long mark, but the rock didn’t break.

“Aaaaargh!” Namgung Hwang did not give up and once again drew out all his inner strength to unleash his sword energy.

“Amitabha!” Beopgye knew he had to help. He shouted a Buddhist prayer and punched the rock.

A huge golden fist of energy joined Namgung Hwang’s sword energy and hit the rock.

Rumble!

Finally, the rock, as large as a large building, split in two. But that was far from enough.

“Wake up! Break it! Break it!” Beopgye screamed. Finally, the others understood and used all their power to attack the rock with their hands and swords.

“Haaah!”

“Aaaaargh!”

It was a scene close to desperation.

Colorful energies struck, split, and crushed the falling rock. The rock gradually broke apart, split, and crumbled.

“More! More! Squeeze out all your strength! Or you’ll all die! Hurry!”

“Haaah!”

The brave fighters, their eyes red with effort, attacked with all their strength. But destroying that enormous rock was impossible from the start.

The huge rock broke into hundreds of smaller rocks, some as big as people, and they all fell down.

Bang! Kaboom! Kaboom! Bang! The rocks crashed down, smashing into the ground like it was mud and burying themselves.

Kaboom! Kaboom!

Rocks kept falling for a long time.

The ground shook, and the cliff seemed to groan.

It was a scene of total chaos and horror. It was like hell.

Thud! Rumble!

Finally, the last rock fell to the ground.

Dust filled the air, hiding the terrible scene for a moment.

When the wind blew the dust away, the awful scene was revealed.

Heo Do-jin stared blankly at the destruction in front of him.

“Ugh⋯⋯.”

“My, my legs⋯⋯. My⋯⋯. Ugh⋯⋯.”

Some were crushed under rocks.

Others were covered in blood and lying still.

Dust covered the blood, but more blood kept flowing.

Heo Do-jin stared blankly at the scene before turning his gaze to the top of the cliff.

“Haha!”

“⋯⋯.”

“Hahaha!” Jang Il-so laughed like a madman. The sound of his laughter and the jingle of his jewelry echoed through the valley filled with the sounds of pain.