Chapter 1412
If you truly desired it, you should have seized it! (1)
“…Sichuan?”
“Yes?”
Ho Gamyeong’s face, who was staring at the person prostrated before him, twisted strangely.
“Heading to Sichuan?”
“Yes! Ryeonju instructed me to report the situation as soon as the troops arrive.”
Ho Gamyeong was momentarily speechless. Lifting his head, he saw the forces of Sapaeryeon withdrawing from Nanjing.
Even amidst the confusion, what caught his eye was a person standing awkwardly in the center of the broken carriage.
Jang Ilso. No, someone with a similar appearance to Jang Ilso.
Dressed in the attire worn only by Jang Ilso and trembling with fear while wearing the accessories exclusive to him.
Ho Gamyeong knew exactly who he was. He had to know. It was none other than Ho Gamyeong who had ensured Jang Ilso’s safety by utilizing his unique appearance.
– Shadowless Warrior?
– Yes, Ryeonju. It’s absolutely necessary.
– Don’t we have Cheon Myeon Susa?
– He’s difficult to control as needed. Please allow it.
– Hm, Gamyeong-ah. You always worry too much and end up doing unnecessary things.
– Ryeonju.
– Haa, do as you please then. I probably won’t need it anyway.
“Ha… Haha…”
A faint laugh escaped Ho Gamyeong’s lips. Every situation unfolded in his mind as if he had seen it all at once.
“Hahahahahaha!”
The laughter, suppressed at first, grew louder, transforming into a huge, inappropriate mad laugh that didn’t suit Ho Gamyeong at all.
Jang Ilso-like. Incredibly like Jang Ilso.
Twisting things that everyone believed without a doubt, as if they were nothing, and yet, casually exploiting them when needed, even if Ho Gamyeong had desperately pleaded for it.
All of it was profoundly like Jang Ilso.
Deceiving everyone. The world, Sapaeryeon, Cheonumaeng, and even Gupailbang.
Even Ho Gamyeong, who followed him closest, was no exception.
“Haha…”
Ho Gamyeong, after suppressing his laughter, took a long breath.
‘Since when?’
Even if he was Ryeonju, he couldn’t have anticipated those Cheonumaeng bastards showing up in Haenam.
So, it means that he drew all of this from the moment he found out that Cheonumaeng had come to Haenam and Ho Gamyeong was chasing after them.
In that short time, Jang Ilso had effectively manipulated everyone as if they were puppets in the palm of his hand.
A shiver ran down his spine, his whole body feeling eerie.
“Did Ryeonju… did he have any separate instructions for me?”
Ho Gamyeong asked, his eyes slightly narrowed. Anticipating this question, the person who had been kneeling raised their head to look at Ho Gamyeong.
“Ryeonju… mentioned that commander already knows what he need to do, so there was no need to convey anything separately.”
“…”
“However, he said that once the troops arrive, commander will have the authority over everyone gathered here.”
Ho Gamyeong chuckled. Even that response was reminiscent of Jang Ilso.
With a slight nod, Ho Gamyeong glanced at Sapaeryeon’s forces.
“Who’s currently controlling them?”
“For now, the deputy commanders of the military camp are acting according to the orders Ryeonju gave in advance.”
“Where are they?”
“To the left, in the center of Maninbang.”
Ho Gamyeong’s eyes grew cold.
“I’m going there. I need to regain control.”
If Jang Ilso intends to trample Sichuan, there’s only one thing to do. It’s to tie down the feet of those here so they can’t go to Sichuan.
After that, naturally, he too must go to Sichuan.
“Move, now!”
“Yes, commander!”
In Ho Gamyeong’s eyes, as he moved swiftly, a subtle gleam emerged. Even Ho Gamyeong himself found it difficult to explain what emotions he was feeling right now.
‘Ryeonju.’
Ho Gamyeong felt a distinct unease towards Hwasan and Maehwa Geomgwi. And he believed that Jang Ilso was particularly lenient towards Maehwa Geomgwi.
Perhaps he thought that someday that leniency and indulgence might turn against Ryeonju.
That’s why he clung to them, willing to do whatever it takes to kill them with his own hands.
But even his fervor in chasing them with a readiness to sacrifice his life was nothing more than a useful tool for Jang Ilso to exploit.
A pawn of someone’s game. A long-term piece to be used as needed.
So…
‘How can one not be in awe?’
Both he, those around him, even Hwasan and Cheonumaeng, who shake the world, how could he turn them all into mere pawns?
Even if there are more people in the world than grains of sand, there is only one who can create such a spectacle, and that is none other than Jang Ilso.
Ho Gamyeong’s gaze suddenly shifted. The leaders of Cheonumaeng, whom he had persistently pursued, were gathered there.
Although the distance was too far to discern their expressions, it was clear even without seeing their eyes. One could imagine what expressions they wore at this moment.
‘How pitiful.’
As vehemently as they had been despised as enemies, at this moment, Ho Gamyeong felt not contempt but genuine pity towards them.
If they had committed any wrongdoing, there was only one:
Turning Jang Ilso into their enemy.
❀ ❀ ❀
A heavy silence descended momentarily.
The leaders of Cheonumaeng stood speechless. The expression ‘lost for words’ is often used, but there had never been a moment when it resonated so deeply.
“This… This is…”
Even as they struggled to speak, no words came out. The words muddled in their minds only served to further confuse their thoughts, unable to form coherent sentences.
Confusion and despair were the only vivid sensations.
“W-what is this? Jang Ilso isn’t here? Then who is that over there? Isn’t he there, Jang Ilso!”
Jo Geol shouted struggling to comprehend what was happening. His trembling finger pointed at a man dressed in red robes standing amidst the fading dust clouds.
“…It’s not Jang Ilso.”
“T-Then who else in this world, besides that bastard Jang Ilso, would dare to roam around in such ostentatious attire…!”
Jo Geol’s attempt to refute was momentarily halted at the end of his sentence. He realized it as he spoke.
There’s only one person in the world who would appear in such a manner.
That’s why he can so easily disguise himself.
Draped in that red robes and adorned with unique accessories, with such a distinctive makeup, no one would doubt that he is Jang Ilso.
If one could approach closely and scrutinize carefully, then perhaps they could discern the truth. But from a distance where his imposing presence is difficult to perceive, anyone in the world would believe without a doubt that he is Jang Ilso.
Without needing to go far, even those present here hadn’t suspected otherwise.
“…Why didn’t we doubt? Why…”
Baek Cheon bit his lip.
From the moment they saw that massive carriage, they naturally assumed that Jang Ilso would be here.
It had to be.
It’s the moment when the fate of this world is decided. In such a moment, it was unthinkable for Jang Ilso to withdraw. At least, in Baek Cheon’s understanding, it was so.
This isn’t Baek Cheon’s fault. No one in the world could have thought otherwise.
At that moment, a voice, like a scream, echoed.
“But then where is Jang Ilso? Where is that bastard right now!”
An indescribable anxiety overwhelmed everyone.
Maninbang has suffered considerable losses in pursuit of Cheonumaeng. The problem is that Jang Ilso is never someone who comes out of such situations at a loss. If there were any thoughts of releasing those whom they pursued at the cost of so many sacrifices, it would naturally entail imposing even greater losses.
What on earth could it be?
Something even bigger than the opportunity to trample the entire Cheonumaeng.
“T-this can’t be. Currently, there’s no place in the whole Central Plains with a larger force gathered than here!”
At Namgung Dowi’s exclamation, everyone nodded in agreement.
“T-then what…”
At that moment, a weak voice was heard.
“T-that’s… not it.”
“What?”
All heads turned towards him. At the end of their gaze, Im Sobyeong sat with a vacant expression on his face.
“Bigger… it’s not that. This place wasn’t even appetizing prey for him from the start.”
“What do you mean, Nokrim King?”
“…He would have considered the situation where Beop Jong would have to cross the river. If that were the case, even if Sapaeryeon’s forces gathered, it would result in a battle where the outcome is unclear. Winning would mean gaining a lot, but losing would mean everything ends. Or… even if they win, it would be a battle where they would have to endure tremendous losses.”
Hyun Jong nodded.
Certainly, the combined forces here would amount to at least that. With the addition of Shaolin, Paengga, and Kongtong to Cheonumaeng, it’s not a force that even Sapaeryeon could easily underestimate.
“But… he was never interested in such fights from the start.”
“…What?”
“Because it’s him! Damn it, because it’s him! He’s the one who mocks going the hard way when there’s easy prey to be haunted. To him, there were things that could be easily taken without shedding blood! Tender prey that could be crushed one by one with overwhelming force!”
Frustration crept onto Im Sobyeong’s weary face.
This was on a different level from being overshadowed by Ho Gamyeong. Jang Ilso hadn’t even stepped onto the board that Im Sobyeong was watching. No, even Im Sobyeong was just one of the pieces on the board Jang Ilso was watching.
A sense of despair washed over him as if someone absolutely powerful was casually picking him up and placing him somewhere. A profound sense of helplessness engulfed Im Sobyeong.
“W-where on earth?”
“…cheng.”
“What?”
“Qingcheng! It’s Sichuan. He’s undoubtedly trampling Qingcheng right now, with his hidden power and Haomun. It’s one of the sects of Gupailbang that hasn’t prepared at all for war, unlike everyone here!”
Everyone’s complexion turned ashen. Im Sobyeong spoke.
“And of course, Emei, which is nearby, will also be annihilated. If Qingcheng is attacked and destroyed, Emei will have to fight alone. With the forces of Maninbang and Haomun, it’s child’s play to dismantle Qingcheng and Emei one after another.”
A silence fell over them, so deep that you could almost hear a pin drop.
“Thoroughly…”
Countless thoughts flowed through Im Sobyeong’s mind like a painting.
The arduous journey from Hainan to here, the desperate fight where everything was sacrificed to survive.
But even that was just a game of cat and mouse for Jang Ilso. While everyone’s attention was focused on the noisy chase, Jang Ilso casually walked into the heart of the Just Sects with his muddy boots.
“We’ve been thoroughly played. Thoroughly…”
Then, someone who had been quietly listening spoke up.
“What’s next?”
“…What?”
Yu Iseol met Im Sobyeong’s gaze with an expressionless face.
“Qingcheng, Emei. What comes after that?”
“The next… is…”
Im Sobyeong’s head turned slowly. In an instant, everyone’s gaze followed him to one place.
At the end of it stood a person whose face had turned pale.
“…Tangga.”
The Lord of the Sichuan Tang Clan, the poison king, Tang Gunak.
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