Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 910

Groups that follow rules teach their people about right and wrong. But groups that don’t follow rules don’t care about these ideas. Money is the only thing that matters to them.

Of course, Jang Il-so is the most powerful person in the Unorthodox Alliance right now, but there are limits to his power. If people don’t have food, wouldn’t they fight back, even against a king?

Ho Ga-myung’s eyes widened slightly. “…You mean stopping their food and supplies?” he asked, biting his lip. He finally understood.

He hadn’t seen this coming at all. When he first thought about giving Plum Blossom Island to Mount Hua, he believed it would just cause trouble between the Nine Great Sects and the Cheonwoo Alliance. He’d imagined a small fight, not a war over everything.

That madman, the Sword Saint of Mount Hua, had made things much worse than anyone expected, bringing them to this point.

“But, Alliance Leader, isn’t this strange?”

“Strange?”

“Yes. Plum Blossom Island is only important if the Yangtze River is blocked. If the Surochae, a powerful group of river bandits, stops blocking the river, doesn’t the island become useless? This doesn’t make sense as a plan.”

“It would be if we thought about it logically,” Jang Il-so chuckled.

“That is, if that pig bastard, the Black Dragon King, plans to stop blocking the Yangtze.”

“…Yes?” Ho Ga-myung tilted his head, as if he didn’t understand.

“Isn’t the Surochae losing money because of Plum Blossom Island? That’s why they’ve asked many times to attack Plum Blossom Island.”

“That was when Plum Blossom Island belonged to someone else.”

Jang Il-so frowned. “That swordsman and that sickly fellow took that small island and made it the center of all trade on the Yangtze River. Just by loading and unloading goods, they’ve been making so much money that the Surochae’s money from robbing people seems like nothing.”

“That’s… true.”

The Unorthodox Alliance planned some of this. But Mount Hua and the Green Forest did even better than expected. They used the situation very well and made Plum Blossom Island much more profitable than anyone thought.

“If you were the Black Dragon King, what would you do?” The corners of Jang Il-so’s lips curled up.

“Would you get rid of Plum Blossom Island to go back to the old days? Or would you keep things as they are and try to take Plum Blossom Island for yourself?”

Ho Ga-myung’s eyes wavered.

“Ah, no, of course, it’s more profitable if you take Plum Blossom Island. But Plum Blossom Island was successful because Mount Hua ran it, right? If the Surochae takes it over, who would trust them and give them their goods? It’s like trusting a fish to a cat.”

“Who really ran Plum Blossom Island?”

Ho Ga-myung closed his mouth.

He didn’t want to say it, but he had to answer Jang Il-so’s question.

“The Green… Forest.”

“They trusted bandits with their goods,” Jang Il-so scoffed.

“Normal people might be different, but for merchants, there’s not much difference between river bandits and mountain bandits. Besides, what are merchants like? If they are safe, they’ll trade with ghosts, not just bandits. If the Surochae just says they won’t steal on Plum Blossom Island, everyone will start using it again soon.”

“…”

“Or they could just use someone else to run it. People will be suspicious, but there’s no other choice, is there?”

“Would the Black Dragon King think that much?”

“Of course, that pig is lazy and greedy. But he’s not stupid.”

“…”

“Especially when it comes to money, he’s faster than anyone else at figuring things out.”

Jang Il-so clicked his tongue.

“I could handle it if that was all, but the problem is that the Black Dragon King isn’t the only one who wants Plum Blossom Island.”

“…”

Ho Ga-myung immediately understood what Jang Il-so meant.

“It’s about a lot of money. There’s no way Hao Moon, another strong group in the Unorthodox Alliance, and the Black Demon Fortress wouldn’t try to get involved.”

“Certainly…” Ho Ga-myung nodded strongly.

The more he thought about it, the more painful it was.

Jang Il-so had been working hard for the past three years to completely control the Unorthodox Alliance. But Jang Il-so only really controlled the Surochae, the Hao Moon, and some smaller groups besides the Black Demon Fortress.

The Unorthodox Alliance’s own forces, led by the Myriad Man Manor, had become stronger than ever, but no matter how great Jang Il-so was, it wasn’t easy to quickly take over the Shinju Five Greats, who had been building their power for decades.

So, this was like a bomb inside the Unorthodox Alliance that would explode someday.

“What if the pigs, who had been waiting for a chance, start to move?”

“…The bomb might explode.”

“Tsk. That’s why I’ve been so careful until now,” Jang Il-so shook his head, looking unhappy.

If they had slowly left Plum Blossom Island, there might have been time to prepare. But Mount Hua had left the Yangtze River so suddenly.

When things are unbalanced, everyone tries to create a new balance. Mount Hua had correctly pointed out that the huge profits would cause problems within the Unorthodox Alliance.

“…But.”

Then Ho Ga-myung asked with a stiff face.

“If you think about it, it could be a good thing, Alliance Leader.”

“A good thing?”

“Yes. It’s a good thing.”

He nodded firmly and spoke clearly.

“We had to get rid of them someday. It was hard to lead people with other plans into war. If you think about it, this is a good time to do it.”

“Tsk tsk. Ga-myung, Ga-myung,” But Jang Il-so immediately shook his head.

“You always have a narrow view when Mount Hua is mentioned. Like before.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Why don’t you understand? Don’t you know what it means to control Plum Blossom Island?”

Jang Il-so stretched out his finger and pointed to Plum Blossom Island.

“Goods cross the river from the land through the island.”

As Jang Il-so’s fingertip slowly moved from Plum Blossom Island and touched the riverbank on the other side, Ho Ga-myung understood what he meant.

“…Ah!”

“Controlling Plum Blossom Island means controlling the docks across the river as well. And this place is…”

“…Gangbuk.”

Ho Ga-myung’s face stiffened.

“What’s on this land?”

“…A massive city. A city that has grown to an unbelievable size in just three years.”

“Exactly. Do you think those pig bastards would get their hands on Plum Blossom Island, a valuable trading hub, and not covet this place? The island is now at the center of a power struggle between powerful groups like the Nine Sects and the Four Evil Sects.”

Ho Gamyeong thought it was impossible.

He knew that seizing the docks across the island meant no one would abandon the city connected to those docks. It’s like a strong fighter who only knows weak moves when facing someone with amazing, powerful skills.

“Taking Plum Blossom Island means advancing into Gangbuk. Whether we like it or not, problems will arise. Problems I can’t control!”

“……”

“And… in a situation like that, where we can’t back out or turn away, the Cheonwu Alliance has retreated far back, as if telling the Nine Sects and us to fight it out amongst ourselves.”

Cold sweat began to trickle down Ho Gamyeong’s forehead. He hadn’t realized how nervous he was until now.

‘How could this simple move lead to all this?’

At first, he thought it was just a foolish move, throwing away enormous profits. But it wasn’t Chung Myung who was foolish, but Ho Gamyeong himself.

It’s not about what you give up, but how much you gain in return for that sacrifice.

By giving up the immense profits that Plum Blossom Island would bring, Hwasan created internal strife within the Four Evil Sects, and that strife even created an opportunity for the Four Evil Sects to clash with the Nine Sects.

What’s even more insidious is that they can’t back out even knowing all this.

The worst possible situation, knowing they are walking into a place of death, yet having no choice but to step forward, was now laid out before them.

‘What on earth is this…?’

He perfectly understood this dreadful scheme, yet at the same time, he was confused as if he understood nothing at all. Because…

How could this simple move lead to this?

A shiver ran down his spine.

“Interesting. Very interesting. Hahahahahaha! It’s the first time in three years I’ve felt this way! Truly interesting! Hahahahahaha!” Jang Ilso threw his head back and laughed uproariously. Then, as if unable to contain his laughter, he covered his face and chuckled.

But at that moment, Ho Gamyeong saw it. Jang Ilso’s eyes, visible between his long, white fingers. That chilling gaze.

Jang Ilso leaned forward suddenly. “Gamyeong.”

Ho Gamyeong straightened up. “Yes, Sect Leader?”

Jang Ilso’s voice was low, almost a growl. “You know, even *I* am starting to regret something. Should I have just killed him back then? Even if it caused more trouble at the time?”

Jang Ilso licked his red lips.

“It’s falling apart. The plan I painstakingly set up is crumbling in an instant. It stings, it stings.”

What displeased Jang Ilso the most was that he was being swept into a game he hadn’t designed.

This wasn’t Jang Ilso’s style. He was the one who dragged others into his game, not an actor dancing on a stage set by someone else.

“…Do you really think that Hwasan Sword Saint predicted all this and acted accordingly? From three years ago?”

“Impossible.”

Jang Ilso said dismissively.

“No one can do that. It must just be a coincidence.”

Ho Gamyeong nodded. His thoughts were the same as Jang Ilso’s.

“But…”

However, the words that followed were somewhat different from Ho Gamyeong’s expectations.

“Even if he hadn’t used Plum Blossom Island as a means, the result would have been the same.”

“Yes? What do you mean by that?”

Jang Ilso chuckled.

“Those who love to gossip think that a surprising tactic is the result of genius. They say it’s an amazing idea created by a broad vision and quick thinking that no one else could have seen.”

“…Isn’t that the truth?”

“No. No, not at all.”

Jang Ilso waved his hand. The ornaments hanging from his wrist clinked against each other.

“In the first place, if someone is that outstanding, they wouldn’t create a situation where they have to come up with risky and bizarre schemes.”

“……”

“A clever trick is not a means for the strong. It’s a means for the weak. It’s what someone who can’t win through orthodox methods agonizes over and squeezes out.”

A ghastly smile bloomed on Jang Ilso’s lips.

“It’s sticky. A clinging malice. A foul stench of wanting to smear my face with filth no matter what. If it were any other situation, someone like that would have devised a way to drag me to hell somehow.”

“……”

“Heh heh. Damn bastard.”

Jang Ilso’s hand, gripping his face, tightened.

“Then…” Ho Gamyeong squeezed out the words with a pale face.

Words that no one in the position of strategist would ever want to utter.

“…What are you planning to do?”

Hearing those words, Jang Ilso sat back in his chair, leaning against the backrest.

With an expression that seemed languid in some ways, and indifferent in others. With a face like a child who had their favorite toy taken away, or someone burdened with a troublesome task.

“I’ll have to play along.”

He nodded slowly.

“When you fall into a swamp, thrashing about to escape only pulls you deeper into the mire. Sometimes, playing along is the best approach.”

Jang Ilso’s expression instantly regained its composure.

“If it’s reached our ears, then the Black Dragon King must already be moving, and since the Hao Moon wouldn’t be slower than us in gathering information, we should assume they’re moving as well. That leaves only the Man Geum Merchant Band.”

Jang Ilso, as if having finished organizing his thoughts, waved his hand.

“It’s a headache. Everyone, leave.”

“Yes.”

The attendants carefully retreated, and Ho Gamyeong also rose from his seat. He knew that Jang Ilso didn’t even need him right now.

As he withdrew, so as not to disturb Jang Ilso’s contemplation, Jang Ilso, now alone, lightly tapped the tea table.

“Hwasan Sword Saint…”

A terrifying killing intent emanated from Jang Ilso, baring his teeth.

“That’s a bit much for a greeting after three years… I’ve taken one on the chin this time. I’m wondering what I should return to you as a thank you…”

Jang Ilso, who had been tapping the tea table, suddenly gripped its edge tightly.

“But…”

And slowly, very slowly, his face relaxed.

And a strange expression appeared. As if mocking, or perhaps worrying, or maybe just teasing.