Chapter 1816 – Return of The Mount Hua Sect
Jang Ilso
tapped his lips with a dissatisfied expression.
“This is
getting boring.”
His gaze was
fixed on one place.
‘Jin
Songwon.’
The leader
of Diancang, whom Jang Ilso once brought to his knees. Around him, Diancang
disciples were now gathering.
Of course,
they weren’t turning their swords toward this side. Still, in this fierce
battlefield, one by one, they were lowering their swords. It at least meant they
were prepared to withdraw.
Ho Gamyeong
spoke with a hardened expression.
“Ryeonju-nim,
at this rate...”
“Tsk, tsk.
Always so weak-willed.”
Jang Ilso
let out a dramatically heavy sigh.
“Not much we
can do. It’s too late to bring out the whip again now.”
“But we have
to do something, don’t we? I’ll go.”
“Ah, just
leave it be.”
Jang Ilso
waved his hand dismissively, clearly uninterested.
“This was
half-expected anyway. Those who kneel easily never see their will through to
the end.”
“Then at
least we should send a warning. They must pay...”
“Planning to
make more enemies?”
Jang Ilso’s
gentle but pointed question silenced Ho Gamyeong.
If they were
to immediately execute the hostages, it would certainly be the most effective
punishment. But from that moment on, those people would become their most
determined enemies, willing to risk their lives in defiance.
“Just the
fact that we have hostages means they won’t be able to fight back against us
with all their might. Even in the worst case scenario. So let’s just leave them
alone.”
“...Understood.”
Ho Gamyeong
reluctantly nodded.
It was
undoubtedly a wise decision, looking further into the future. He couldn’t deny
it.
In any case,
Evil Tyrant Alliance and Heavenly Comrade Alliance would at least reach a
conclusion in this place. They could punish the defectors afterward.
To be
honest, they’d already gained massive benefits just by using them up until now.
‘But
still...’
Despite
that, Ho Gamyeong felt uneasy. The situation was turning increasingly
unfavorable.
It wasn’t
just because of Jin Songwon and Diancang’s defection. What frustrated him more
was that the major figures they’d deployed were failing to exert their
strength. On top of that, even the Red Dogs, who were supposed to deliver the
decisive blow, had failed to penetrate the enemy’s defenses.
‘Those
bastards...’
Ho Gamyeong
bit his lip slightly.
Mount Hua.
It was Mount Hua again. Those bastards were blocking the Red Dogs. He had run
out of curses to hurl at those persistent pests.
Mount Hua
wasn’t exactly fighting the Red Dogs evenly. But wherever Mount Hua showed
weakness, certain individuals always appeared.
The ones
bearing the black-and-white Taiji symbol on their chests.
‘Those Wudang...’
Mount Hua
and Wudang were the twin pillars of the Taoist sects.
They should’ve
been natural enemies. But now they were fighting side by side at the
frontlines. And it was a significant source of pressure.
‘I should
have wiped them out completely.’
If Mount Hua
and Wudang were the reasons they couldn’t dominate the frontlines, who was to
blame?
Despite
holding full authority, Ho Gamyeong had failed to deliver on his promises.
War wasn’t
about fighting to win. It was about securing victory before fighting. He had
failed to uphold this eternal truth.
Ho Gamyeong
barely managed to speak.
“Ryeonju-nim,
if this continues...”
They would
lose.
But he
couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Jang Ilso
probably knew it too. While evil sect was terrifying when riding high on
momentum, they faltered when battles dragged on. Their martial arts simply
weren’t suited for prolonged warfare.
If they
couldn’t break through the frontlines and create chaos, this plain would
eventually be filled with evil sect’s corpses.
Jang Ilso
lightly scratched his cheek, muttering as if making a joke rather than
expressing concern.
“Ah, it’s
tiresome.”
“Ryeonju-nim...”
“Hmm, should
I step in personally?”
“But that’s...”
Ho Gamyeong
swallowed the rest of his words. What he should’ve said was obvious, ‘You must
not’. However, he couldn’t bring himself to say it because there were no other
solutions.
Perhaps this
was Jang Ilso’s last chance to step in. No matter how strong a hand they held,
if the tide of battle turned against them, they might lose without ever making
a decisive move. This was more common than one might think.
Jang Ilso’s
voice broke through Ho Gamyeong’s lingering worries.
“You seem
concerned.”
Startled by
the insight, Ho Gamyeong flinched. Even without looking his way, Jang Ilso
seemed to read him perfectly.
“My
apologies.”
“Ah, don’t
mention it.”
At that
moment, Ho Gamyeong felt something strange.
Not just
composure, but Jang Ilso was too relaxed.
Until just
now, Ho Gamyeong had thought this attitude stemmed from confidence in victory.
But now, a strange sense of incongruity crept in.
“There’s no
need to worry. We’ve already taken measures, haven’t we?”
Jang Ilso
gestured lightly toward a direction. Following his gaze, Ho Gamyeong’s eyes
widened.
“That’s...”
“What do you
think?”
Ho Gamyeong
was momentarily speechless. Was it a brilliant move? Not necessarily.
But was it a
critical one? Absolutely.
There was no
trick that could instantly reverse the tide in this situation. Even if
unexpected reinforcements suddenly appeared, it would only prolong the battle,
not shift the momentum.
But that...
“Ryeonju-nim,
did you plan this from the start?”
“Do you
think I’m that clever? I was just lucky.”
Ho Gamyeong
stared silently at Jang Ilso.
Perhaps Jang
Ilso had foreseen all of this. Or maybe he had forced the situation into
unfolding this way.
If that were
the case… what form would the end of this war, as envisioned by Jang Ilso,
take? Could he have already visualized it, or…
Lost in
thought, Ho Gamyeong unconsciously bit the inside of his cheek. It was only
then that he realized something—he had never heard Jang Ilso describe what that
‘end’ would be.
❀ ❀ ❀
A swift
sword aura swept through the enemy ranks.
“Uraaaaaah!”
Crunch!
With absurd
ease, the sword pierced through the enemy’s heart without giving them a chance
to defend.
“Argh! This
isn’t right!”
However, Jo
Geol, the one wielding the astonishing sword, roared in frustration, looking as
though he wanted to collapse from exasperation.
His sword
had undoubtedly improved. Faster, more precise, and more powerful—he was even
surprised by his own progress.
But that was
it. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recapture the sensation he’d had
just moments ago. He knew clinging to it would only push it further away, but
it was hard to forget that fleeting moment of perfection.
Especially
for someone like Jo Geol.
Just then, a
sword suddenly came flying toward his neck from somewhere.
“Watch out!”
Clang!
Before Jo
Geol could even react, a sword intercepted the sword. The wielder drove their
sword into the chest of the assailant from the Evil Tyrant Alliance.
“You didn’t
have to help me.”
“Just in
case.”
“Ugh. Well,
thanks anyway.”
Seeing Jo
Geol’s grumpy expression, Jin Hyeon from Wudang smiled faintly.
‘Jo Geol…’
It had been
a long time since Jin Hyeon had seen him. Back then, Jo Geol had been watching
Jin Hyeon duel Baek Cheon.
At that
time, Jin Hyeon hadn’t expected Jo Geol to become this formidable. Not that he
lacked discernment—nobody would have predicted it.
What set Jo
Geol apart wasn’t effort or talent but rather an unwavering will to stay true
to his path.
Jin Hyeon
could sense that about him. And…
“Look out!”
Clang!
Jo Geol
deflected a sword flying toward Jin Hyeon and smugly declared.
“Debt
repaid!”
“It wasn’t
even a crisis.”
“Same for
me!”
Jin Hyeon
chuckled. Fate was truly strange. He never would have imagined fighting
alongside these people back then.
“Hey, Jo
Geol Dojang.”
“What?”
“Do you drink
alcohol?”
“What’s with
the sudden question?”
No one knew
how this war would end—whether victory would be theirs or not. Jin Hyeon couldn’t
even guarantee his own survival.
But if he
and Jo Geol both made it out alive, he thought it wouldn’t be so bad to share a
drink with him someday.
“What are
you talking about?”
“Never mind.”
“Come on,
now I’m curious! What are you talking about?”
“…Forget it.”
Of course,
it wouldn’t be easy. Even if they escaped without further losses, Mount Wudang
had already sunk too deep into the mire. Those who survived would face a long
and arduous path ahead.
But for
now...
Woooong.
Jin Hyeon’s
sword hummed with a clear tone.
Yes, for
now, knowing which direction to move was enough.
A member of
the Red Dogs charged at him, their blade slicing through the air with a sharp
sound.
“Taap!”
Jin Hyeon
elegantly swung his sword in response.
Clang!
The sword
slid along the blade’s arc. Instead of brute force, he met power with
fluidity—the way of Mount Wudang.
After
deflecting the blade, Jin Hyeon’s sword traced a smooth circle and etched a
long wound across the enemy’s shoulder.
“Wow…”
Jo Geol,
engaged in another fight nearby, couldn’t help but express his admiration.
No matter
how many times he saw it, Mount Wudang’s swordsmanship was nothing short of
magical. To Jo Geol, it looked more like acrobatics than swordplay. He wouldn’t
even dream of trying it himself. He instinctively knew that no amount of
training would let him wield a sword like that.
“A pine
caterpillar should eat pine needles!”
[tl note: This
is a proverb that implies that one should stick to what they are good at or
know their place and act accordingly. It suggests that people should not
overreach or attempt things beyond their abilities, just as a pine caterpillar
naturally eats pine needles instead of something else. In this scene, Jo Geol
uses this phrase while fighting, likely meaning that each person should fight
in their own way—perhaps implying that he should stick to his own fighting
style rather than trying to imitate Wudang’s sword techniques.]
Before his
opponent could fully swing their weapon, Jo Geol stabbed their side.
Fear began
to flicker in the eyes of those nearby.
“What, you
wanna eat a sword too—”
Jo Geol’s
playful taunt was cut short. His expression froze as he instinctively kept an
eye on the rear during the fight.
“Dojang?”
Noticing Jo
Geol’s odd demeanor, Jin Hyeon called out curiously. But Jo Geol remained
silent, staring intently at something.
‘What’s he
looking at?’
What could
possibly be behind them? Beyond the frontline were only the unengaged Heavenly
Alliance forces and the vast plains. If he looked even farther…
Jin Hyeon’s
gaze shifted, and his body stiffened. Not the plains—beyond them. Toward the
unsightly mountain peaks rising in the distance.
“…Huh?”
Jin Hyeon’s
eyes trembled violently.
Though still
sparse and far from lush, the green of Mount Wudang was slowly returning.
Near the
mountain’s summit, something red caught his eye.
“That, that’s…?”
Shock spread
across Jin Hyeon’s face.
It was
distant and blurry, but clearly visible—a sizable group was climbing Mount
Wudang.
Why were
they ascending the mountain? What could they possibly want up there?
Jin Hyeon’s
gaze lifted slightly. The faint outlines of rooftops became visible, and an
unwelcome image formed in his mind.
A wave of
unspeakable dread washed over him, turning his face pale.
“Ah- No!
Nooooooo!”
A desperate
scream tore from his throat.
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