Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 948

The Black Dragon King’s teeth ground together, a harsh sound in the tense air. Below him, on Plum Blossom Island, his pirates were running back to their ships, retreating.

“Wh-what is—” He choked out, his voice thick with fury.

Crack! He bit down hard on his lip, tasting blood. His whole body shook with boiling anger.

Those useless fools! he thought, his mind screaming. They should be fighting, not running!

He had given no order to retreat. His instructions were to destroy the Namgung. Yet, these fools were retreating under Ho Gamyeong’s command.

Of course, Ho Gamyeong was Jang Il-so’s second-in-command. So, in a way, the pirates should listen to him. The Waterway Camp was part of the Four Evil Alliances.

But seeing the pirates follow Ho Gamyeong’s orders without checking with him, even though he was right there, made his stomach churn.

Hoo.

The Black Dragon King took a deep breath.

Rage surged within him. If he made a scene, he would be admitting he had lost control of the Waterway Camp, even briefly. Instead, he gritted his teeth and jumped off the Black Dragon Ship.

Then, he walked towards Jang Il-so, who was heading to the ship.

“Jang Il-so!” he shouted, his voice like an enraged beast.

“What madness is this?! Why are you letting those Namgung dogs live?! All we have to do is crush them!”

Jang Il-so stopped. He didn’t turn, but glanced at the Black Dragon King.

The Black Dragon King trailed off.

Jang Il-so’s gaze was emotionless.

His eyes were like ice, showing no warmth or feeling. They seemed to see right through the Black Dragon King, and the Black Dragon King felt a chill as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Ugh⋯⋯.

Jang Il-so stared silently at the Black Dragon King. The Black Dragon King met his gaze with bloodshot eyes, as if he had to prove himself.

But the confrontation didn’t last long. The Black Dragon King looked away first.

“I apologize, Lord. I lost my temper.”

He bowed slightly, showing respect.

“Hmm.”

Jang Il-so glanced at him, seemingly displeased, and nodded slowly.

“I understand why you’re angry, Black Dragon King. You’re upset that I retreated the Waterway Camp without your permission.”

“Ah, no, it’s not exactly that⋯⋯.”

“But there’s no need to be so angry.”

Jang Il-so smiled and continued.

“Killing them isn’t that important, is it?”

The Black Dragon King was stunned.

Not a big deal? They were the Namgung Clan, a prestigious family that had lasted for centuries. Destroying them would be a great achievement for the Four Evil Alliances and the Waterway Camp.

But it wasn’t a big deal?

“They’re just minnows.”

Jang Il-so said.

“If you catch minnows, use them as bait to catch a bigger fish. What does it matter if you only catch one minnow?”

“You mean a snakehead?”

“A large fish.”

Jang Il-so slowly turned his head, looking at the Black Dragon Ship. A strange smile appeared on his lips.

“I’ll explain more on the ship.”

The Black Dragon King’s expression hardened. But when Jang Il-so looked back as if asking if there was a problem, the Black Dragon King had to nod.

“I understand.”

“Gamyeong, let’s go.”

“Yes!”

Jang Il-so and Ho Gamyeong walked towards the Black Dragon Ship. The Black Dragon King followed silently.

He bit his lip and glared at Jang Il-so’s back.

The Black Dragon Ship was a symbol of his power. No one could board without his permission. Jang Il-so knew this, yet he was telling the Black Dragon King he would board the ship.

It was a notification, not a request.

This showed their positions clearly.

Jang Il-so⋯⋯.

The Black Dragon King clenched his fist.

He couldn’t stop it now. If he wanted to, he shouldn’t have lost the first confrontation. From the moment he looked away, he had lost control.

How⋯⋯.

Three years ago, when they formed the Four Evil Alliances, Jang Il-so wasn’t like this. The Shinju Ohpae supported Jang Il-so as Lord because they thought they could control him.

But now, a question arose: Was he really controllable? That snake?

As he watched Jang Il-so board the ship, his red robe fluttering, cold sweat formed on his back.

Beobjeong, the Buddhist Master, stared blankly at Plum Blossom Island.

The pirates retreated, boarding the ships.

“This is⋯⋯.”

Beobjeong stopped himself. He knew it would sound foolish to ask what was going on. But his concern was unnecessary. Even if he had asked, no one would have judged him.

Because they didn’t understand either. No one could understand what was happening.

“They’re retreating.”

Beobgye said, not to Beobjeong, but to himself, muttering in confusion.

“The Namgung⋯⋯ have they been defeated already?”

“That can’t be.”

No matter how surrounded, the Namgung Clan was still the Namgung Clan, especially with the Sword Emperor, Namgung Hwang, there. It was impossible to defeat him so quietly, even for Jang Il-so or the Black Dragon King.

Then⋯⋯.

What is happening there?

Why wasn’t there a battle? And why were the pirates withdrawing?

Had they suddenly become merciful? What a ridiculous thought. They were the Demonic Faction.

“Amitabha⋯⋯. Amitabha.”

Beobjeong chanted the Buddha’s name rapidly. He felt like his mind was in chaos. From the moment Jang Il-so appeared, everything felt tangled.

“Abbot, perhaps⋯⋯.”

Beobjeong turned to look at Beobgye.

“The Namgung⋯⋯ with them⋯⋯.”

“Can’t you keep that mouth shut!”

Beobjeong shouted angrily. He knew what Beobgye was about to say: that the Namgung had joined hands with them. But those words should not be spoken.

“Do not recklessly discuss unconfirmed matters! It is an insult to them!”

“I apologize, Abbot. But the situation is⋯⋯.”

Although angry, he understood Beobgye’s feelings. He had already considered that possibility, even though it seemed impossible. Otherwise, he couldn’t understand what was happening.

“Amitabha. Amitabha.”

Beobjeong bit his lip. He saw the figure in the red robe boarding the Black Dragon Ship.

What are you thinking!

It was Jang Il-so, plotting something.

But even Beobjeong couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

Grind.

Beobjeong glared at Jang Il-so, grinding his teeth.

“I-it’s moving.”

The ships that had been docked on the island slowly retreated. The pirates climbed back onto the ships.

“A-are they really leaving like that?”

“Why?”

“What are they thinking?”

Murmurs were heard from behind. Even with the Abbot of Shaolin present, they were all talking in confusion.

“Are they really retreating from the island?”

“What is this⋯⋯.”

They could see the surviving members of the Namgung Clan standing in the center of the island.

Beobgye spoke again, his face pale.

“A-Abbot. This can only mean that they made some kind of deal⋯⋯.”

“Didn’t I tell you to shut up!”

A terrifying rage poured out of Beobjeong’s eyes, and Beobgye closed his mouth. Beobjeong clenched his fist.

There’s no way it’s such an obvious trick.

The Namgung made a deal and came back alive? So what? Beobjeong wouldn’t suspect them just because of that. People do what they must to survive.

There was no reason for Beobjeong to fall for such an obvious trick.

That’s not it. It’s something else. But what in the world⋯⋯ what can they gain from this situation?

But soon, Beobjeong realized it might have been better not to know.

“The ships⋯⋯.”

“A-Abbot. The ships are re-encircling the island.”

The Shaolin monks cried out in confusion. The ships that had left the island began to surround it again.

“Surround?”

Why again? If so, they should have just killed them all⋯⋯.

“Uh⋯⋯.”

Beobjeong’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear.

“Ugh!”

A sound escaped his mouth. It was a groan that even Beobgye had never heard before.

His mouth opened wide, and his eyes trembled.

“H-how⋯⋯!”

The bows of the ships were turned towards the outside of the island, towards the Gangbuk side.

“H-how can a person do this? How can a human wear a mask and do such a thing! How! How can they!”

A desperate scream erupted from Beobjeong’s mouth.

“A-Abbot!”

Beobgye was flustered. He had never seen Beobjeong scream like this.

“Paegun! Paegun, you vile creature who will fall into hell! How can a person do this? How can a person!”

“A-Abbot! Please calm down!”

The Black Dragon Ship approached them. Finally, the ship stopped in the river between the Shaolin monks and Plum Blossom Island.

No one could breathe. No one could speak.

A man in a red robe appeared on the ship.

Everyone watched Jang Il-so without moving.

“Hmm.”

Jang Il-so looked directly at Shaolin.

“Oh dear, why are you so angry?”

His soft voice pierced their ears.

“I am going to give you⋯⋯.”

The silence made everyone’s hearts sink. Then, the devil smiled and continued.

“⋯⋯a chance.”

His blood-red lips were like a crescent moon.