Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 982

Eyes full of mocking laughter. *Did you really think you were so powerful?* his eyes seemed to ask.

Thud!

Jang Il-so instinctively raised a hand to cover his face, not wanting others to see his true expression.

He was the leader of the Myriad Manors and the Lord of the Four Evil Sects.

He shouldn’t let his face show anger just because of a sect leader from Mount Hua.

At that moment, Chung Myung spoke.

“Since the sect leader has ordered it, the Black Dragon King will be released as you wish. But…”

Firmly, Chung Myung pressed his foot harder on the Black Dragon King’s head. A groan escaped the Black Dragon King’s mouth, as if something was about to break.

Chung Myung, listening to the groan with an expressionless face, glared at Jang Il-so.

“I don’t trust you.”

“…”

“The Black Dragon King will be released after we arrive in Gangbuk.”

Jang Il-so glared at Chung Myung, a fierce, blue aura flickering in his eyes.

“So, get lost now. There’s a limit to my patience.”

A low chuckle escaped Jang Il-so’s throat.

His shoulders, which had been twitching, now shook harder. But no sound came out. It was a silent laugh, a chilling, mad laugh.

Watching him, the Mount Hua disciples clenched their fists. A cold fear crept into their hearts, making their stomachs tighten. They couldn’t explain it, but this silent laughter was more terrifying than any shout.

After a long moment of this silent, shaking laughter, Jang Il-so slowly lowered his hand. His face was calm again, like a mask of stone. But his eyes still held a flicker of something wild.

“Hmm.”

Jang Il-so slowly turned his head and looked at Hyun Jong again.

“Sect Leader.”

“Speak, Lord.”

“I trust that you will keep your word.”

Hyun Jong nodded silently.

“I will.”

Jang Il-so nodded as if satisfied.

“You said you wouldn’t negotiate with the Demonic Sect… That’s the Sect Leader’s position. I also have my pride, so I can’t just follow your words. So, I must keep the words I spoke in my own way.”

Jang Il-so slightly raised his hand. Then, two empty ships from the fleet waiting behind began to approach Plum Blossom Island.

Seeing this, the Mount Hua swordsmen’s expressions hardened, and Jang Il-so twisted the corners of his lips.

“They are empty ships.”

“…”

“Those who have achieved great things shouldn’t have to disgracefully swim back. Consider it my goodwill.”

The disciples of Mount Hua looked at Jang Il-so with suspicion. In their minds, the name Jang Il-so and the word goodwill simply did not match.

But Hyun Jong simply bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“…”

Jang Il-so stared at Hyun Jong, who bowed to him, for a long time. The silence became uncomfortable.

Then, he slowly spoke.

“The Sect Leader of Mount Hua. The leader of the Heavenly Union…”

His voice was calm, but it carried a strange power.

“…Hyun Jong.”

Jang Il-so’s head nodded slightly, not with the exaggerated show he usually displayed.

“I will remember that name properly.”

“…It’s not a great name that the Overlord should remember.”

“Hee hee.”

Jang Il-so, who laughed softly, turned without any hesitation. He slowly walked towards his small boat behind Chung Myung.

He had to pass by Chung Myung. Their eyes met.

“…This time,”

Jang Il-so said with a bitter smile.

“I took one on the chin. Mount Hua Divine Dragon.”

Chung Myung smirked.

“This time?”

A smile bloomed that was strangely similar to Jang Il-so’s, yet clearly different. Chung Myung spoke again.

“You’re just a guy who barely managed to save his life and return, yet you’re still running your mouth.”

“…”

“Get lost.”

Jang Il-so lightly shook his head as if he couldn’t help it, and then passed by Chung Myung.

The moment he passed Chung Myung and no one could see his face, the silver rings on his fingers dug into his skin, making a sharp, metallic *clink* like ice cracking.

It sounded like vengeful spirits were screaming in pain.

Step. Step.

As he stepped onto the small boat, it moved on its own and headed towards the river.

‘Mount Hua and… Hyun Jong.’

A fierce, blue aura settled on Jang Il-so’s face.

On the surface, it looked like a good result for him. He had prevented the Black Dragon King’s death and placed him in great debt.

Of course, even if the crisis was caused by Jang Il-so and the Myriad Manors’ indifference, the fact that he saved the Black Dragon King’s life remained.

To those who didn’t understand the situation, it would seem as if Jang Il-so entered Plum Blossom Island, which was like enemy territory, alone, without shedding a single drop of blood, and rescued the Black Dragon King with only his words.

Jang Il-so’s reputation would surely rise even higher.

Yes, on the surface. But only on the surface.

Inside, Jang Il-so felt an unbearable sense of humiliation.

‘That I…’

Jang Il-so’s face twisted like a demon.

‘That I had to beg for my life with the mercy of a guy whose name I didn’t even remember properly? That *I*, Jang Il-so, had to do that?’

Hyun Jong was someone he hadn’t considered.

Up to the point where Mount Hua and the Tang Family entered Plum Blossom Island and the Black Dragon King was in danger, everything went according to his plans.

But after that, it was completely different from what he had expected.

If it was the Mount Hua Divine Dragon, who valued the disciples of Mount Hua more than his own life and never missed an opportunity, he would never give up the mediation offer.

Because it was an offer that was absolutely beneficial to the Mount Hua Divine Dragon.

He could save all the disciples of Mount Hua without losing a single one, and he could gain the reputation of rescuing the Namgung from Plum Blossom Island.

With this alone, the Heavenly Union and Mount Hua could gain a moral advantage over the Shaolin and the Nine Great Sects.

It was an offer that anyone with a brain could never refuse.

Especially a clever guy like the Mount Hua Divine Dragon; he would have no choice but to take Jang Il-so’s hand, regardless of his emotions. Absolutely!

That’s why Jang Il-so was able to come to Plum Blossom Island alone without any guards.

Because he thought that the Mount Hua Divine Dragon would never reject this offer.

But…

‘Hyun Jong.’

Hyun Jong rejected his mediation offer.

The offer that anyone who understood the benefits could never refuse, that Hyun Jong threw it away without a second thought.

Jang Il-so couldn’t understand it at all.

And if you looked at it objectively, Jang Il-so was as good as dead at that moment.

He hadn’t considered Hyun Jong. The moment the offer was rejected, Jang Il-so was just a clown who overestimated himself and walked into the tiger’s den.

The fact that he survived was just luck.

Jang Il-so, who had been controlling everything as he pleased, was now in a situation where he had only managed to save his life for reasons he couldn’t understand.

“Hee hee hee hee.”

A fierce, blue aura settled in Jang Il-so’s eyes again.

“…Hyun Jong.”

A madman does things that normal people can’t understand.

In that sense, Jang Il-so might seem like a madman to others, but in Jang Il-so’s eyes, Hyun Jong was the madman.

A crazy human being that he couldn’t understand or predict.

Such a human being was the Sect Leader of Mount Hua and the leader of the Heavenly Union, with the unwavering support of the Mount Hua Divine Dragon.

Jang Il-so licked his lips. His lips, as red as blood, looked even more eerie.

“That’s why… the world is fun.”

Suppressing the burning feeling in his stomach, as if he had swallowed charcoal, Jang Il-so forced a smile. But his eyes were gloomier than ever.

“Hooo…”

“Augh…”

The moment Jang Il-so left Plum Blossom Island, the Mount Hua disciples all sighed in relief.

Some wiped the sweat from their foreheads, and some shook their heads.

That’s how much pressure Jang Il-so exerted.

Just facing him was suffocating, like being cut by sharp blades.

Every time they faced him, they understood why he was the Lord of the Four Evil Sects.

But that’s why…

‘Sect Leader.’

They looked at Hyun Jong with deep trust.

That Jang Il-so, the ruler of Gangnam and the leader of the Demonic Sect, Hyun Jong didn’t back down an inch. No, he didn’t just stand his ground.

Hyun Jong didn’t try to meet Jang Il-so with force, nor did he try to intimidate him.

He simply faced Jang Il-so calmly, as always.

Who else could do that?

They realized once again how great their Sect Leader was.

“You’ve worked hard, Alliance Leader.”

Those words came from Tang Gun-ak.

That meant Tang Gun-ak felt the same way.

“No, Family Head.”

Hyun Jong shook his head.

“I was sweating trying to calm my trembling legs. The Overlord is truly powerful. How can someone be like that…”

Tang Gun-ak smiled slightly.

‘He’s a great man.’

Anyone who saw Jang Il-so’s back as he left would feel the same way as Tang Gun-ak.

Who else could send Jang Il-so back like that?

“This is really amazing…”

“I’m sorry, but I think we should talk later, Family Head.”

At that moment, Hyun Jong looked towards the Namgung Family.

“Since the Overlord has promised, there will be no more attacks. First, we must quickly move the injured members of the Namgung Family to the land and treat them.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

Tang Gun-ak wasn’t one to be interrupted.

But now, there wasn’t a hint of displeasure on his face.

This was because he understood Hyun Jong’s concern that more of the Namgung Family’s swordsmen would die from their injuries.

“Move the injured to the ship! We will return to Gangbuk!”

“Yes!”

The disciples of Mount Hua raised their voices and answered excitedly. Interestingly, even the warriors of the Sichuan Tang Family were raising their voices and answering.

Tang Gun-ak smiled at the sight.

It seemed that even his family members had now recognized Hyun Jong as their leader.

‘He’s gained a lot.’

It was an impulsive start, but he really gained a lot: reputation, justification, and achievements.

Yes, so many things.

At that moment, Hyun Jong, who was in front of him, ran towards the Namgung Family to help support the swordsmen, as if he was worried.

Tang Gun-ak nodded as he looked at Hyun Jong’s back.

‘But the greatest thing we have gained here may be that person.’

Thinking that, he became curious about something else.

Tang Gun-ak slowly turned his head and saw Chung Myung stepping on the unconscious Black Dragon King and glaring at the Myriad Manors across the river.

‘Did you see this coming and head here?’

Of course, Chung Myung wouldn’t answer.