Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 911

“Are we really leaving *all* of this behind?” the First Elder asked, his voice barely a whisper. He stared back at Plum Blossom Island, its white buildings gleaming under the morning sun.

Im So-byeong nodded slowly, a hint of sadness in his eyes. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“But… the ships?” The First Elder’s jaw dropped. “You mean we’re leaving the ships too? All of them?” He couldn’t believe it.

Of course, he understood leaving the buildings behind. They couldn’t exactly detach them and move them, and they couldn’t just destroy everything when leaving the island.

“Why are we leaving the ships, the ships?! Do you have any idea how much one of those costs!”

“Tsk tsk. A bandit getting greedy over ships. Living by the water for too long must have given you a taste for piracy?” Im So-byeong teased.

“That’s not the point! Just selling those would…”

“Oh my goodness, man. You can only sell them if there’s someone to sell to. Selling ships isn’t something you can do overnight,” Im So-byeong said.

Im So-byeong snapped open his fan.

“And the important thing isn’t money. It’s the intention. If you only think about money, you’ll miss what’s truly important.”

The First Elder couldn’t bring himself to speak, and instead pounded on his chest in frustration.

Their Green Forest King had always been a bit odd, but it felt like it had gotten worse since he met that Taoist from Mount Hua. He couldn’t understand what this man was doing at all.

“So, how’s the withdrawal going?” Im So-byeong asked.

“…Mostly finished. The gathered wealth has been sent to the Eunha Merchant Guild with escorts, and the fellows from Plum Blossom Island have all been moved to the mainland. The remaining men have packed their things and left, so it’s just us now,” the First Elder replied.

“I see. Good,” Im So-byeong said.

Im So-byeong gently swayed his fan. A small breeze brushed against his cheek. He looked at Plum Blossom Island with a hint of regret.

“It was a good place.”

“It never suited my temperament. Pine caterpillars belong on pine trees! We are heroes of the Green Forest, not people who carry bags and earn money for others,” the First Elder grumbled.

“You say that, but you are wearing very expensive clothes. Did you buy them recently?” Im So-byeong asked with a smirk.

“Ah, ahem. This is…”

The First Elder’s face flushed red.

Plum Blossom Island generated so much money that even the Green Forest’s share was a massive profit. So, the elders’ pockets were quite full of silver coins.

The First Elder squirmed, unable to hide the expensive silk clothes he was wearing.

“I wouldn’t stop you if you really wanted to go back to the mountains and live as a bandit again,” Im So-byeong said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

“I, I’m just saying. Just saying…” the First Elder stammered.

“Tsk tsk. A bandit in silk clothes. If the founder knew, he’d foam at the mouth,” Im So-byeong chuckled.

“Ugh.”

The First Elder groaned at the mention of the founder. If the late Green Forest King saw this, he would try to tear the First Elder, clothes and all, to shreds.

Im So-byeong stared blankly across the river and clicked his tongue.

‘Three years, huh.’

Over the past three years, Im So-byeong and the Green Forest had gained a lot. For Im So-byeong personally, it was time to stabilize the chaotic Green Forest. Money wasn’t a means to solve everything in the world, but it was a means to solve most things.

Those who had opposed Im So-byeong becoming the Green Forest King shut their mouths when they saw the wealth falling into their hands.

But compared to what the Green Forest had truly gained, wealth was nothing.

Most importantly, the common people no longer feared the Green Forest.

Changing their business to protecting those traveling through the mountains without harming them and collecting tolls had a clear effect. And showing so many people the image of working hard through Plum Blossom Island also had an effect.

But what had an even greater impact was the Four Evil Sects.

The Four Evil Sects declared the unification of the Four Evil ways and absorbed all the evil sects under their command. At the same time, they absorbed all the hatred of the people of the world.

In the midst of that, the Green Forest opposed the Four Evil Sects and supported the Heavenly Union, so those who hated the Four Evil Sects began to look at the Green Forest with considerable warmth.

“Mount Hua’s aura also played a part. Anyway, he’s a very useful Taoist,” Im So-byeong mused.

“Yes?” the First Elder asked, confused.

“No, nothing,” Im So-byeong replied.

Im So-byeong chuckled softly.

‘This is how you gamble.’

When he, the leader of the Green Forest, said he would join hands with Mount Hua, how many people thought he was crazy?

Because his power had gathered after sweeping away Daebyeolchae and others, they couldn’t openly say anything, but there probably wasn’t a single person who sincerely agreed with his idea.

But that gamble was a complete success.

“No. No, not yet.”

Im So-byeong’s eyes turned cold again.

‘At least after sweeping away the Four Evil Sects and burying a knife in Jang Il-so’s neck, I can talk about success.’

He briefly imagined the scene in his head and then chuckled.

“Well, that’s not my job, though.”

“What on earth have you been muttering to yourself since earlier? Like a madman,” the First Elder said, exasperated.

A vein popped out on Im So-byeong’s forehead at the sudden harsh words.

‘I need to transform into a righteous sect at this opportunity, this is just…’

He didn’t even expect the Tang family, who wouldn’t hesitate to pretend to die at the head of the family’s words. But even that crazy Taoist from Mount Hua didn’t argue with the sect leader’s words, so why was the Green Forest in such a state?

His insides were boiling.

But before he could say anything, the First Elder asked with a serious face.

“More than that, are we really pulling out like this?”

“Why are you bringing up a finished story again?” Im So-byeong asked, annoyed.

“It’s a waste, a waste. Plum Blossom Island is Plum Blossom Island, but…”

The First Elder’s gaze turned backward. He could see the large buildings that stretched out from the pier.

How much effort had they put into creating this city?

But leaving all of this behind felt like cutting off an arm. But Im So-byeong waved his hand, cutting off the elder’s regret.

“Enough, get ready. Guests will be coming soon.”

“Guests?”

“Yes, guests. Very dark… Hmm. Looks like they’re already coming.”

“Yes?”

The First Elder turned his head towards where Im So-byeong’s gaze was fixed.

“Oh…?”

Sure enough, a black ship was revealing its form in the distance. At first, it looked small, but the majesty that was revealed as it approached was truly enormous.

“Th, that?”

A ship that looked at least three times larger than the other ships escorting it. On the sail, the image of a black dragon roaming the Yangtze River was painted as if it were alive.

And the First Elder was one of those who knew the identity of this ship better than anyone else.

“Th, that’s the Black Dragon Ship, isn’t it?!”

The First Elder asked in surprise, but Im So-byeong fanned himself with an indifferent face.

“Hmm, I didn’t expect him to show up himself. Looks like the Black Dragon King was quite eager.”

That ship and the Black Dragon flag hanging on it meant that the Black Dragon King had come here himself. To get this small island in his hands.

Im So-byeong chuckled.

“No… The Black Dragon King himself…?”

The First Elder’s mouth dropped open in uncontrollable shock.

Im So-byeong was the Green Forest King, but he wasn’t like a Green Forest King, so to put it bluntly, it wasn’t surprising that he was running around lightly. But generally, those called ‘King’ don’t move so easily.

But the Black Dragon King himself had appeared here?

“He must have come to take Plum Blossom Island now that we’re leaving. Before anyone else can get their hands on it,” Im So-byeong explained.

The First Elder, who couldn’t immediately understand the situation, stared at the approaching Black Dragon Ship with wide eyes.

But at that moment, another thought flashed through Im So-byeong’s mind.

‘A day, huh?’

A strange smile hung on his lips.

Just before leaving Mount Hua, Cheong-myeong had called him and told him to check one thing. Who would come first after they withdrew from Plum Blossom Island, and how long would it take for them to appear.

‘The fact that the Surochae came to occupy this place in less than a day means that they didn’t get permission from the Lord of the Four Evil Sects.’

It would be considered a success even if they appeared within two days, but the Black Dragon King himself appeared in just one day?

That meant that a clear crack had begun to form between them. It was undeniable proof that the Heavenly Union’s plan had worked more reliably than expected.

“Heh heh heh. That’s why I like the Taoist,” Im So-byeong chuckled.

For the past three years, the one who held the reins of the gangho was Jang Il-so of the Four Evil Sects, no matter what anyone said. Shaolin, who once held the leading power of the gangho, couldn’t keep up with the speed of the Four Evil Sects and simply remained in seclusion, keenly aware of the situation.

There hadn’t been any major clashes, but no one could deny that the gangho had been played according to Jang Il-so’s intentions.

But as soon as Mount Hua returned, Jang Il-so’s leading power began to twist. Without even drawing a sword once, without shedding a single drop of blood, he delivered a more devastating blow than any sword strike.

Im So-byeong, who had been lost in thought for a moment, shook his head.

“Let’s go. If we stay here, we’ll get hit by a thunderbolt.”

“Ah, no, Green Forest King. If the Surochae takes over here…” the First Elder protested.

“Nothing will happen,” Im So-byeong said with a confident voice, despite the First Elder’s worried tone.

“The one who would have been most twisted by the sight of us, who abandoned the mountains, mingling with the common people and comfortably scraping together wealth, would have been the Black Dragon King, of course.”

“…”

“Moreover, we know how to bow our heads to Mount Hua, but that proud fellow doesn’t know how to bow his head to Jang Il-so at all. So, he’ll try to gather wealth here and strengthen the Surochae’s power.”

“That sounds believable, but…” the First Elder trailed off.

“That’s how it will be,” Im So-byeong stated.

Im So-byeong covered his mouth with his fan and smiled meaningfully.

“Who do you think felt the greatest fear at the sight of Jang Il-so gathering power?”

“What do you mean by that?” the First Elder asked, puzzled.

“Let’s go,” Im So-byeong said.

Im So-byeong folded his fan with a snap, turned around, and began to walk away on his own.

“Green Forest King! Le, let’s go together!”

The First Elder quickly followed. As he did, he asked more questions, but Im So-byeong just smiled meaningfully and hurried his steps.

‘Now, how will Shaolin come out?’

There’s nothing as fun as watching a fight.

“We have arrived! Black Dragon King!” a crewman announced.

“Hmm!”

The Black Dragon King, standing at the bow of the ship, stared intently at the small island in front of him.

“To think that something so insignificant could cause so much trouble,” he muttered.

If that Jang Il-so hadn’t openly blocked him, he would have swept it away long ago. Because of that one island, the Surochae’s plan to control the Yangtze River had been completely shattered.

But…

‘Turning a crisis into an opportunity must be what they’re talking about.’

The past time didn’t matter. He had seen with his own eyes that collecting proper tolls was several times more profitable than awkwardly stealing things.

Moreover, he was the head of the Surochae. Unlike them, he was in a position to firmly control those who traveled the Yangtze River. If he set his mind to it, it wouldn’t be difficult to earn several times the money that Mount Hua had earned from that Plum Blossom Island.

“If it goes well… I can build a force that surpasses even those money-grubbing Black Ghost Fortress. Then Jang Il-so will be nothing,” the Black Dragon King thought.

The Black Dragon King gritted his teeth.

The status of the Four Evil Sects was increasing day by day, but the Black Dragon King’s power was rather worse than in the past. Even the world regarded him as Jang Il-so’s subordinate.

The Lord of the Four Evil Sects was Jang Il-so, and he was only the Vice-Lord, so that wasn’t so wrong. But…

“That’s ridiculous.”

He would show them now. Who the true leader of the Four Evil Sects was.

“Prepare to dock!” the Black Dragon King ordered.

The Black Dragon King nodded heavily.

“Disembark and occupy it!”

“Yes!” the crew responded.

The silent Yangtze River began to boil again.