Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 826

“Ah, you can still talk,” Jang Il-So said, a smile playing on his lips. He seemed interested, like he was watching something curious.

“Huh?” Cheong-Myeong grunted, looking back at him.

“Even if you don’t want to say what’s really on your mind,” Jang Il-So continued, his smile widening slightly.

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Jang Il-So’s eyes. *This one is interesting*, he thought. Even Ho Ga-Myung, who knew him better than anyone, struggled to understand what he was truly thinking. But this man saw right through him, as if it were nothing.

*Could there be another enemy in the world as fun to play with as this one?*

“No explosives, right? Except for the first ones, of course?”

“What are you talking about?”

Jang Il-So burst into laughter.

“You went to check already, didn’t you? What a pity. You should have seen your disguise fall apart with your own eyes. It’s a shame I couldn’t see that spectacle myself.”

Cheong-Myeong’s face twisted in anger.

‘I’ve been completely played.’

Of course, there were explosives.

The first blast that broke the cliff wasn’t from people’s power. Explosives were used for sure.

But there weren’t any other explosives.

Looking back, it was clear. It would be hard for even a big group to get enough explosives to destroy that cliff. Getting them, moving them to the Jang River without being seen, and planting them quickly would be almost impossible.

But then, no one questioned if there were explosives. Not even Cheong-Myeong.

There were two reasons.

Seeing the cliff explode was too much to take in. No one could think straight after seeing that.

Even if they thought there was only a small chance of explosives being there, they had to climb the cliff.

No one would risk their lives if there was only a small chance of success.

And the other reason was…

“You also gave us the White Lightning Cannons so quickly as part of the plan.”

“Of course.”

Jang Il-So laughed happily.

It was like a chess game. Cheong-Myeong was starting to understand his moves.

A clever plan is no fun if no one understands how clever it is. That’s why you are a good rival.

“The people who came to the Jang River were watching everything your Mount Hua Sect did. They knew you had the White Lightning Cannons.”

“…”

“If they weren’t fools, they would have known the moment they saw me that I gave you those White Lightning Cannons. So…”

Jang Il-So smiled cruelly.

“They would have thought I had a lot of explosives because of you.”

“You snake-like bastard…”

This was more like a compliment.

That’s how it felt.

The Nine Great Sects were scared of explosives that weren’t there, so they climbed the cliffs and got hurt and tired.

“There wasn’t anything on the retreat route either, right?”

“Of course not.”

Jang Il-So smiled, pleased.

“I didn’t have enough people to put there.”

“…What if they *did* retreat that way? What would you have done then?”

“Nothing. I’d just have to run away with my tail between my legs.”

Jang Il-So shrugged.

“But that would mean they’re even more foolish than I thought, which would be good. If they’re that foolish, I can beat them anytime.”

Cheong-Myeong made a face and laughed, holding his stomach. His stomach twisted with anger and shame.

This guy is crazy.

His stomach felt like he ate something bad. The more he thought about it, the clearer it became.

Jang Il-So had tricked everyone.

Cheong-Myeong couldn’t stand that even Mount Hua had been tricked by Jang Il-So.

It all started with bringing them to the Jang River. Jang Il-So wanted to bring Mount Hua and the Nine Great Sects to the Jang River from the start.

The Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families didn’t think the Demonic Sects would dare to trick them, so they fell for it.

His laughter stopped, and his face turned cold.

“The Jang River is not to be touched…”

Cheong-Myeong gritted his teeth.

“You left the Heavenly Union out of that deal on purpose.”

“Because you wouldn’t have agreed.”

Jang Il-So chuckled.

“You’re not like those fools. You don’t give up. And you were the only one who could decide for the Heavenly Union then.”

“That’s not all, is it?”

“Ha… Haha.”

Jang Il-So’s smiling face turned serious. Cheong-Myeong’s words surprised him.

“Anyway, good. Use the land I gave you well. Tell those water rats clearly: if they come close, I’ll cut off their heads.”

“Why should I do that? You know the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families can’t come near the Jang River, right? So why should I protect your land? Huh?”

“Because that’s what you want.”

“…”

Jang Il-So’s eyes narrowed.

Suddenly, Jang Il-So’s eyes narrowed, and a dangerous anger flashed in them.

“Mount Hua Divine Dragon. Mount Hua Divine Dragon…”

Jang Il-So shook his head, talking to himself.

“That’s not enough for you anymore. It scares me.”

“You don’t need to praise me so much. It’s just a simple trick.”

Jang Il-So wanted the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families to fall completely. He wasn’t even thinking about the Heavenly Union right now.

The Heavenly Union and the Demonic Sects together are about as strong as the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, or even weaker.

Unless the Heavenly Union and the Demonic Sects could never join forces, the Demonic Sects wouldn’t be safe even with this victory.

That’s why they were buying time with the treaty. And…

‘Completely destroy the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families.’

The rumor that the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families lost and ran away from the Jang River would spread soon. And so would the rumor that they begged for their lives.

Because Jang Il-So would spread it himself.

They would be criticized a lot, and their reputation would be ruined.

But what if the Heavenly Union stood strong on one side of the Jang River?

What if the Heavenly Union protected the people there?

‘That would be hell for the Nine Great Sects.’

If the Heavenly Union had lost too, people would understand. But if the Heavenly Union fought to the end, no one would call the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families ‘righteous’ anymore.

Jang Il-So needed to praise the Heavenly Union the most right now.

“Tch. This is boring. This should have been given to someone running away in fear.”

Jang Il-So took a sip of his drink and clicked his tongue.

“The local gangs won’t come near your areas, of course. But if the Nine Sects block our trade because they are annoyed, or if that idiot Black Dragon King interferes too much and disrupts trade to Gangnam, it will cause problems for me.”

“That’s a foolish thing to say. Do you think I would let you pass for just a few coins after hearing that?”

“Aren’t you planning to take every last coin you can get anyway? Or am I wrong?”

Chung Myung grinned, showing his teeth.

Inside, though, he was seething, grinding his teeth.

But, coldly calculating, Mount Hua and the Heavenly Union had lost nothing. In fact, they had gained a lot.

Now, the Heavenly Union would take the place of the Nine Sects and Five Great Families, groups that were once seen as honorable leaders. The Union would control the trade routes to Gangnam, making huge profits.

And the Four Evil Sects, in return, had weakened the Nine Sects and Five Great Families, giving themselves time to reorganize.

They were like enemies who had to work together.

No description could be more fitting.

“What do you think, Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?”

“…Of what?”

“Do you like my gift?”

“……”

“You can’t refuse this gift. No, you have no choice. But you don’t have to be grateful. I’ve received plenty of gifts from you, too! Haha! Hahaha!”

Chung Myung’s smile grew wider.

“Let me say something, too.”

“Hmm?”

Jang Il-So looked at Chung Myung, smiling as if he was very curious about what he would say.

“You’re right. You won this battle.”

“Hmph?”

“But that’s just a battle.”

“……”

Jang Il-So’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’ll see. You’ll see how foolish you’ve been.”

“……Foolish?”

“Battles are small compared to wars.”

“Indeed.”

“But even wars are nothing compared to destiny.”

“……”

“If you really wanted to take over the fighting world, you should have done anything to destroy me and Mount Hua right here. You were so focused on the small prize in front of you that you missed the big picture.”

“……”

“You will see.”

A cold feeling came from Chung Myung.

“You’ll understand what it means to have given Mount Hua time. It won’t be long. The moment your head is cut off, you’ll regret this day, over and over. You will.”

“……”

Jang Il-So’s face became serious.

It was a simple threat… or maybe just a desperate outburst.

But…

Jang Il-So couldn’t ignore those words.

He must be kept alive. Chung Myung is important to his plans. His existence keeps the Heavenly Union, the Four Evil Sects, the Nine Sects, and the Five Great Families in balance.

If Chung Myung dies, the Heavenly Union will quickly fall apart, and the Nine Sects and Five Great Families, with no one to stop them, will attack with anger.

But… on the other hand, his gut feeling screamed.

Maybe letting this kid live would be more dangerous than facing the Nine Sects and Five Great Families.

Just like the kid said.

Crack!

Jang Il-So clenched his fist without realizing it.

‘Even now…’

At that moment, as Jang Il-So bit his lip, filled with a sudden urge to kill, a group of fighters quickly approached from a distance.

‘What’s that?’

Jang Il-So’s eyes widened slightly. They were still too far away to see clearly, but they were coming closer very fast.

‘Green?’

The moment he saw the green clothes they were wearing, Jang Il-So knew who was coming.

“Tch…”

Clicking his tongue, Jang Il-So slowly opened his fist. No matter what, he couldn’t kill Chung Myung before they arrived. And if a fight started here, Jang Il-So would be at a disadvantage.

In this case, in the end…

“…Was I the one who was saved?”

“If Heo, that fool, hadn’t been so slow.”

The Sichuan Tang Family. They were quickly approaching Chung Myung.

If they had joined the fight, the result would have been different.

“…When did he call them?”

“You never know what might happen.”

Jang Il-So licked his lips.

‘That was close.’

He had almost been trapped. This one is truly dangerous.

“No matter.”

Jang Il-So finished his drink and looked down at Chung Myung.

“Either way, I’ve won this war.”

“Yes. So enjoy it while it lasts.”

Chung Myung grinned, showing his teeth.

“That short moment of joy, I mean.”

Intense anger filled the eyes of the two men as they stared at each other.

“Hmph.”

Jang Il-So snorted, turned, and stepped into the carriage.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Inside the carriage, which slowly started moving, Jang Il-So leaned his head against the wall with a strange look on his face.

‘This feels unsettling.’

He had thought it was a complete victory. But… now that he thought about it, wasn’t it a rather lucky victory? If they had waited until the Sichuan Tang Family arrived, the Four Evil Sects wouldn’t have been able to take control of the battle and make a deal.

“This ruins my appetite.”

A low sound came from his red lips. Jang Il-So’s eyes narrowed like a snake’s.

‘Mount Hua… and the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, Chung Myung.’

It was the moment Jang Il-So remembered that name.

“I need to think of a better name for him. It would be annoying if this Jang Il-So’s enemy had such a childish name.”

A moment later, his soft laughter spread slowly from the carriage and across the quiet land.