Chapter 1372
We’ll have to force them go that way. (2)
Inside the carriage, which was beyond luxurious.
Jang Ilso, lounging lazily, turned his head towards the window, enjoying the gentle rocking.
The world seen through the small window, barely big enough to stick one’s head out, felt incredibly constricted. From the limited view, it was impossible to tell where they were heading or where they were currently located.
Yet, he didn’t feel stuffy at all.
Merely imagining the ripples caused by a small stone thrown into a tranquil lake brought him joy.
Moreover, he was curious. Just how large would those ripples grow in the end?
“Haha.. haa.”
He chuckled softly, as if amused by his own thoughts.
“Ryeonju.”
At that moment, a cautious voice was heard from outside the carriage. Jang Ilso responded slowly.
“I’m listening.”
“We’ve received a report on the situation in Gangbuk.”
Jang Ilso’s long eyelashes fluttered faintly.
“Go on.”
“Both the Gupailbang and Cheonumeang seem to have grasped the situation and are moving cautiously, but they have not yet started moving in our direction.”
“Hmm…”
“It seems that Cheonumeang is preparing for deployment, but there’s still no significant movement from Gupailbang. There’s a possibility they might just sit tight like this…”
Jang Ilso chuckled, finding the statement absurd.
“This is where Gamyeong’s absence is clearly visible.”
“…I apologize.”
“It’s not about sitting this out. They’re just being slow. Big players like them are always cautious, fearing any potential mistakes until everything is certain.”
Especially if it’s Beop Jong.
Jang Ilso’s understanding of Beop Jong had already been in place after Namgung clan incident. He’s someone who hopes his sect avoids even the slightest loss. No, it’s more accurate to say he dreads the responsibility falling back on him.
Someone like that wouldn’t rashly act in such ambiguous situations. They’ll wait until things are clearer, even if it means enduring a bit of damage. Because waiting until the situation becomes more certain means they’ll bear less responsibility, even if it leads to slightly greater losses.
There’s nothing particularly surprising or unusual about it.
It’s a common trait among those who hold themselves with pride and claim to walk the righteous path. It’s what those who have used the facade of Just Sects have naturally done until now.
In fact, it’s fair to say that the way Hwasan and Cheonumaeng has dealt with each situation created by Jang Ilso, responding like a ghost, has been rather atypical for a Just Sect.
“And… Ah, no.”
“Hmm?”
The sound that trailed off piqued Jang Ilso’s interest instead. Were there really any other news to be heard?
“Do you have more to say?”
“Well, it’s, um, if it’s trivial, then it’s just small news… I’m not sure if it’s worth reporting to Ryeonju…”
“Go ahead and speak freely.”
“Yes! So… um… it’s been reported that around thirty people have gone missing in Gangnam.”
“Thirty?”
“Yes. It’s not particularly important news since those who went missing were barely anyone significant.. but, um, it’s difficult to find the cause…”
Jang Ilso’s lips curled slightly upwards.
“Where exactly?”
“It’s near Fuzhou.”
“Fuzhou?”
“Yes! We considered whether it might be the work of the advancing Cheonumaeng, but the location of the disappearances isn’t entirely uninhabited, and it’s a bit far from the direction we anticipated those guys would be heading. It doesn’t seem like they would have a reason to reveal themselves and engage in combat. There might be another cause.”
“Ha-ha-ha-ha.”
Jang Ilso, who had been listening quietly, chuckled. It wasn’t his usual sinister laugh that sent shivers down people’s spines, but rather a laughter born of amusement that he couldn’t contain.
“Ha-ha-ha-ha! Anyway!”
Finally, with a cheerful grin, he wiped his face with his long fingers. It seemed as if the frustration he had felt in dealing with Beop Jong had vanished completely.
“Truly, what a bad-tempered kid.”
“Should we send an investigation team…?”
“Leave it be.”
With a smile, Jang Ilso muttered to himself.
“That’s like sending me an invitation. It’s none of your concern.”
Unable to comprehend his cryptic words, silence greeted him from outside the carriage instead of any substantial response.
Jang Ilso didn’t bother to relay what he had understood. There was no reason to, and even if he did, they wouldn’t understand, so it would only hurt his mouth to explain.
He heard it in his ear.
‘I’m here. Don’t you want to come and kill me?’
The voice of the one speaking echoed in his ear.
“Ha-ha-ha.”
Unable to contain his laughter, Jang Ilso chuckled once again.
“I have no hobby of succumbing to a man’s temptation.”
Anyway, this time Maninbang suffered tremendous losses because of Cheonumaeng. Of course, the losses could all be compensated by capturing those who infiltrated Gangnam, but…
“So, the calculation still doesn’t add up.”
Even if Sapaeryeon gained and Cheonumaeng suffered great losses, they still couldn’t stop the meddling of the old foxes in Gupailbang. From the perspective of Sapaeryeon, even if they didn’t suffer losses, it still meant trouble.
And that would be the same for Hwasan Geomhyeop’s or Cheonumaeng’s perspective as well. So they would try to somehow lure Gupailbang in. From the perspective of Hwasan Geomhyeop, the biggest bait to move the Gupailbang would be Jang Ilso, and…
“So, the biggest bait that can move me is you? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Your self-awareness is too strong.”
Jang Ilso chuckled as he glanced out the window.
This is the fun part.
Hwasan Geomhyeop is trying to lure him out to move Gupailbang, and he is already moving just like Hwasan Geomhyeop expects. Although they’ve never had a conversation about this matter, they both have the same idea.
While dealing with bastards who couldn’t even react properly to obvious moves, Jang Ilso couldn’t help but laugh when he saw the guy trying to grab him by his hair and shake up.
“Even without urging… I am already doing so.”
From his perspective, there was no reason for Gupailbang to sit idly by while the other side watched from across the river. After all, the more firewood there is, the more brightly the flames will burn.
His long fingers tapped lightly on his pale cheek.
“But Hwasan Geomhyeop…”
His lips, red as blood, curled upwards.
“You must be cautious. That flame could engulf you.”
Tilting his head back, he continued in a languid voice.
“Pass it on to Surochae. Tell them to move.”
“Yes, Ryeonju!”
“If the old men whose days are numbered are dawdling, we must make them move, even if by force.”
Jang Ilso slowly closed his eyes with a satisfied expression.
❀ ❀ ❀
“I have a report!”
The person who burst in through the door exclaimed, disregarding formalities and raising their voice.
“The forces of Sapaeryeon and Paegun, aimed at the border, have reached Huangshan!”
At this, Beob Jong’s eyebrows twitched as he muttered in disbelief.
“Already at Huangshan?”
“Yes! That’s what the scouts of the Beggars Sect have reported.”
“…Understood.”
With a sigh escaping his lips as the door closed behind the messenger, Beob Jong remained silent, his expression fixed. Jongli Hyeong, who had been silent with a stern face, spoke up.
“If they’ve reached Huangshan, doesn’t that mean they’ll soon be at Hefei, where they aimed to be upon their northward march?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“How, how could this…?”
With a despairing expression, Jongli Hyeong couldn’t help but ask.
“Then shouldn’t we do something as well, Abbot?”
Beob Jong remained silent, closing his eyes.
‘How…’
While Jongli Hyeong felt urgency focusing solely on the immediate situation, there was something else simmering within Beob Jong.
‘Who would’ve thought that Namgung siding with Cheonumaeng would lead to this outcome!’
Under normal circumstances, this situation would never have arisen. The land they should have stepped upon after crossing the lower reaches of the Yangtze River was Anhui. Originally, it was where Namgung clan, like a royal family, stood firm.
If Namgung, who was once hailed as the leader of the Five Great Families, had preserved their strength, even if it was against Sapaeryeon, they wouldn’t have easily breached Anhui.
Even if Sapaeryeon was strong, if Namgung could momentarily hinder their advance, there would be an opportunity for Wudang and Shaolin to provide support. However, the sturdy fortress has now crumbled. This is due to the absence of Namgung clan and the Bongmun of Wudang.
While Wudang’s Bongmun is one thing, Namgung’s alliance with Cheonumaeng is especially fatal. If they had simply held onto Anhui instead of siding with Cheonumaeng, this situation wouldn’t have arisen.
‘Namgung Hwang’s miscalculation has led to this outcome.’
Beob Jong sighed in frustration.
At that moment, Paeng Yeop, the lord of Paeng family, spoke up.
“As Sect Leader Jongli suggested, it would be wise to respond promptly. If we allow them to cross the river, the damage will become irreparable.”
Beob Jong slowly opened his eyes, which he had kept closed.
‘Paegun Jang Ilso.’
There are countless people in the world, but is there anyone else who can manipulate people’s emotions as deeply as he can?
“How is Cheonumaeng?”
“It seems they are planning to move eastward along with Sapaeryeon, but they haven’t set out yet.”
“…They’re procrastinating quite unlike themselves.”
A tinge of bitterness crept into Beob Jong’s voice. Jongli Hyeong caught onto his mood.
“I heard there’s no sign of Hwasan Geomhyeop at Cheonumaeng right now. Could that be the reason?”
Beob Jong unconsciously bit his lip in response.
Truly, it seems he was dealing with an unpredictable situation. When he was present, his existence was unsettling, but now that he was gone, it’s a headache in its own right.
While he could predict how Cheonumaeng, led by Hwasan Geomhyeop, might act, with the absence of Hwasan Geomhyeop, Hyun Jong is likely in control, and predicting the actions of such Cheonumaeng is difficult in its own.
In the end, there was only one thing Beob Jong could say.
“Let’s wait a little longer.”
“Abbot! We don’t have time for that. If they really do attack…”
“I know.”
The damage to the commoners would be significant, and Anhui would quickly fall into chaos.
“It’s not that I’m comfortable with inaction. But… for now, it won’t be too late to act once we see how Cheonumaeng moves.”
A sigh escaped from Jongli Hyeong’s lips.
Beob Jong’s words might not be wrong, but only if the opponent isn’t Jang Ilso.
Why does he still not realize that the moment Jang Ilso’s intentions become clear, it will be too late to undo what has already happened? Despite experiencing it so many times!
‘There’s a limit to caution.’
Chewing on words he couldn’t bring himself to say directly to Beob Jong, Jongli Hyeong tightly bit his lips.
“A-Abbot!”
Bang!
At that moment, the door burst open, and someone rushed in.
“What’s going on?”
Sensing that something had happened, Beob Jong’s eyes widened.
“Th- the enemies, they’re crossing the river…!”
“What?”
He hastily sprang to his feet.
“Jang Ilso, who was in Huangshan, is crossing the river? What nonsense is this?”
“N-No, it’s not that! Surochae! It’s Surochae!”
“W-What… what did you say?”
The messenger’s face, as he rushed in to deliver the news, had drained of color.
“The vanguard of Surochae is attacking us right now!”
Beob Jong’s wrinkled face turned pale in an instant.
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