Chapter 1458
That’s not just a small number. (3)
Foreheads shining with sweat, the aides couldn’t even blink. Their gazes fell upon the chilling sight of their fallen comrade’s body.
Just a single word. It was that single word spoken first that determined his fate.
The surviving subordinates had just returned from the brink of hell. Their bodies were drenched with sweat, as if they had dipped their feet into the underworld and narrowly escaped.
Ho Gamyeong stood respectfully by Jang Ilso’s side.
“Supplies?”
“They will be brought up from headquarters. We have ample reserves, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”
“Even so… we ended up living on the streets, which doesn’t really suit my temperament.”
“It will be at least ten days. Please bear with it.”
“Hmph… words are easy, words.”
Jang Ilso gently smoothed out the creases on his furrowed brow with his fingertips. A sense of lethargy, absent for a while, emanated from his face.
The atmosphere was as usual, and so was the conversation.
But for Jeok Ho, who had been assisting Jang Ilso all the way here, everything felt strangely eerie.
‘Why did he…’
Jeok Ho’s mind raced as he watched Jang Ilso nonchalantly head east, abandoning the hard-won territory of Sichuan.
And yet, on the opposite side, Ho Gamyeong, who was undoubtedly headed for Sichuan, seemed to be waiting here as if it had been planned in advance.
Had these two communicated with each other?
‘It couldn’t be…’
Jeok Ho shook his head, dismissing the thought.
He had never taken his eyes off Jang Ilso from near Shaanxi to here. He had to protect Jang Ilso, that was his duty. And in the process, he swore that Jang Ilso had never attempted to contact anyone.
But how did these two, who were so far apart, know where to find each other so naturally?
Jeok Ho had never considered himself foolish. But at this moment, he finally admitted to himself that he was nothing more than a pawn wielding a sword.
Even if they looked at the same world with the same eyes, what they have seen was completely different.
With lips slightly pressed, he approached the two figures. In that short time, countless thoughts raced through his mind.
Ultimately, it was a matter of punishing Ho Gameyong, who had attempted to deceive Jang Ilso openly. The issue of managing the difficult Sichuan region, which was still not completely pacified. The problem of tracking down the Tang clan that had moved north… And countless other problems were looming.
However, among his many worries, what ultimately emerged from his lips was nothing other than a question.
“…Ryeonju, may I ask why have you set up an encampment in such a place?”
Jeok Ho’s question was entirely reasonable.
From a rational standpoint, the most urgent matter at hand was to assist Haomun’s Munju with Diancang, or more precisely, to reclaim the authority over Haomun and the Blood Cult that he had handed over to Munju.
After that, one could discuss the subjugation of Sichuan, which had become a land without any martial arts sects.
Both issues were urgent, but even if one struggled with both, it was not enough. But why waste time in a place like this?
“Tsk.”
At that moment, Jang Ilso clicked his tongue in annoyance. Just as he was about to speak with a look of irritation on his face, Ho Gameyong took it upon himself to speak instead.
“It’s right for us to be stationed here at the moment.”
“…Why?”
Jeok Ho looked at Ho Gameyong with a slightly relieved expression, without even realizing it himself. And in that moment, he also unconsciously grasped the importance of Ho Gameyong’s presence.
It wasn’t easy for someone like Jeok Ho to question Jang Ilso. But if the other party was Ho Gamyeong, wouldn’t it be different?
“That way, it’ll be much easier for him to make a move.”
“…Him?”
“Beop Jong. The Abbot of Shaolin.”
Jeok Ho’s face went blank at the cryptic response. Why was Shaolin’s Abbot suddenly mentioned here? Could it be…?
“Are you saying they’re going to attack us? Is that why you blocked this place?”
If Gupailbang’ attack on Sichuan was a shared belief between Ryeonju and Ho Gamyeong, and they chose Zhangjiajie as the suitable defensive location, it would make some sense. But…
“Absolutely not. That won’t happen. They don’t have the resources for that.”
Ho Gameyong decisively dismissed Jeok Ho’s speculation.
“Then why on earth…?”
“You seem to be thinking backwards. We’re not holding Gupailbang in check right now. Rather, we’re helping them.”
Jeok Ho stared at Ho Gameyong with a blank face. What kind of nonsense was this? Why would they help Gupailbang? To Sapaeryeon, Gupailbang were nothing less than arch-enemies.
“Why on earth?”
“So that it’ll be easier for them to pull others under their banner.”
Feeling that his explanation alone wasn’t sufficient, Ho Gameyong took a short breath and calmly elaborated.
“This is Zhangjiajie. From here, you can go to Shaanxi, Hubei, or Sichuan if you wish. What do you think those spoiled brats in Gangbuk will think when they find out we’ve set up camp here?”
“Well…”
They would think a blade was pointed right under their chins. They would assume that Sapaeryeon, which had already trampled Sichuan and Yunnan, now set its sights on Hubei as the next target.
The war had already begun. Those who had been sitting on the sidelines, merely observing, must have been shocked into action upon seeing the annihilation of Qingcheng and Emei.
What would they do then?
“You mean to make them gather under Gupailbang?”
“Exactly.”
“Why?”
“It’s obvious. So they’ll draw clearer lines and build stronger walls. Walls so sturdy they can never be broken again.”
Jeok Ho’s eyes trembled.
‘Cheonumaeng and Gupailbang…’
Right now, Ho Gameyong was saying that by pointing their blade towards the north from this location, they would completely split Cheonumaeng and Gupailbang.
“Is that really possible…?”
“Hah…”
At that moment, Jang Ilso, who had been silently listening to the conversation, shook his head.
“Ugh. Why do you keep asking when you won’t understand even if it’s explained?”
“…I’m sorry, Ryeonju.”
“Think about it. Could you have imagined a few years ago that you’d be fighting alongside Black Ghosts?”
“I couldn’t have imagined it…”
They were enemies. Enemies that had to be defeated and trampled. But now, Jeok Ho clearly regarded Black Ghost as an ally.
“That’s it.”
Jang Ilso’s red lips twisted slightly.
“People draw boundaries out of necessity. But once those boundaries are drawn, even those who drew them get swept up by them.”
Jeok Ho looked at Jang Ilso with puzzled eyes. Ho Gameyong elaborated in an emotionless voice.
“Until now, Cheonumaeng and Gupailbang could join hands despite their mutual animosity because there was a middle ground. That middle ground consisted of smaller sects and commoners. This means they shared a common responsibility for those under the banner of righteousness.”
Ho Gameyong paused briefly before continuing.
“But… what do you think would happen if a clear line was drawn right through that middle ground?”
Jeok Ho’s face hardened. That would…
“Right now, we are becoming wolves. We may not be attacking, but we are instilling enough fear in the sheep.”
Jeok Ho looked at Jang Ilso and Ho Gameyong with bewildered eyes.
It was somewhat complicated, but to summarize, their presence here would cause Cheonumaeng and Gupailbang to split more definitively. This would result in the world being divided into three clear factions.
‘Then what happens?’
The main reason Sapaeryeon couldn’t move recklessly until now was that if they pushed into Gangbuk, Cheonumaeng and Gupailbang would inevitably join forces. No matter how much infighting there was, it was natural to unite against an external threat.
But what if Cheonumaeng and Gupailbang no longer saw each other as mere rivals? What if a boundary emerged between them, and they began to regard each other as external forces?
If that happened, Sapaeryeon would gain an immeasurable advantage.
“I understand what you mean. But… will they really act as we expect…?”
“They will.”
“…What?”
Jang Ilso, answering instead of Ho Gameyong, twisted the corners of his mouth into a sly smile.
“That’s what they desire most, and that’s the reason they appeared in Sichuan.”
Two instances of ‘they.’
But it was clear that the ‘they’ referred to at the beginning and at the end were different.
“Tsk. It’s annoying to play into that monk’s plans, but if it benefits us, there’s no reason not to. Just watch. Even now, that old man from Shaolin is likely moving voraciously.”
Jang Ilso chuckled softly. His gaze naturally drifted towards Shaanxi, thinking of someone who might be heading home in defeat at this very moment.
“The pitiful one is Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
“…”
“The world is so indifferent. Despite all that effort.”
Despite his words, Jang Ilso’s eyes shimmered with immense pleasure. It was a difficult emotion to describe, akin to the vile satisfaction of someone who drags a child out of a dream and forces reality upon them.
“I told you, the age for whining has passed. The world is ultimately a place where the more greedy one wins.”
A faint smile crossed his face.
The fate of Cheonumaeng, having lost Sichuan and now holed up in Shaanxi, was as good as sealed. Gupailbang would thoroughly bite into them after they had lost their cause on their way to rescue the Tang clan.
And even if Gupailbang didn’t do that, people tend to seek more familiar places when faced with great crises. How many would stake their lives on the newly formed Cheonumaeng compared to the established Gupailbang?
“That’s enough. All they need to do is hate each other. Gupailbang, seizing their opportunity, will crush Cheonumaeng, and Cheonumaeng will harbor an undying grudge against Gupailbang. They should be able to laugh freely at each other’s downfall. Hahahahahaha!”
A loud burst of laughter erupted from Jang Ilso’s mouth.
It had been long. Far too long.
How much time had he endured to create this scene? How long had he sharpened his claws to finally alter the future that seemed destined to collapse under their union, no matter how much he raged and stormed?
He had held back and endured until he could finally paint the picture he desired. This pleasure was incomparable to anything else in the world.
In Jang Ilso’s bloodshot eyes, countless indescribable emotions swirled. And at that very moment.
“Ryeonju!”
A hurried voice called out from behind. Jang Ilso’s face twisted slightly.
The disruption of his joy made his killing intent surge. But quickly suppressing his emotions, Jang Ilso glanced back. Ho Gameyong, perceptive as ever, spoke up first.
“What is it?”
“R-report from Sichuan!”
“Sichuan?”
Ho Gameyong’s eyebrows twitched.
“Yes! A group of unknown origin is approaching Chengdu!”
Ho Gameyong frowned, rapidly calculating in his mind.
Cheonumaeng? No, that couldn’t be. It was impossible for them to appear in Sichuan now. No matter how strong their forces, there were limits to their mobility.
“Their numbers?”
“Well, that is…”
The messenger hesitated for a moment. His reluctance to answer seemed suspicious, prompting Ho Gameyong to raise his voice slightly in impatience.
“Answer me. How many?”
“W-well, it’s just about ten or so…”
“Ten or so?”
Ho Gameyong frowned. Why was there such a commotion over merely ten people approaching Chengdu? Feeling a tinge of annoyance, he waved his hand dismissively.
“Alright, you may withdraw-“
“B-but!”
“Hmm?”
The messenger, sweating profusely, shouted.
“Among those ten, there was a sighting of Poison King Tang Gunak!”
“Tang Gunak?”
Ho Gameyong’s eyes widened slightly. Why would Tang Gunak be heading there?
‘Is there something left for him to retrieve from the Tang clan? At this point…’
“A-and there’s also someone with a physique twice the size of others.”
“…What?”
“And someone wielding the Plum Blossom Sword was spotted…”
Ho Gameyong’s face grew increasingly stern.
‘Tang Gunk, someone abnormally large, and… the Plum Blossom Sword?’
Tang Gunak. The Beast Palace Lord Maeng So. And someone from Hwasan… But only about ten of them?
Ho Gameyong, who had been lost in thought, suddenly snapped his head up. His eyes shook as if an earthquake had struck.
“S-Sect L-Leaders? Could it be that the leaders of each sect left their subordinates behind…?”
It was something beyond his imagination.
Of course, if such a thing were possible, an extraordinary group would be formed. The leaders of the various sects under Cheonumaeng were essentially the top experts of their respective sects.
But which insane leaders would abandon their retreating subordinates to charge into enemy territory on their own? Which madmen would…
“…M-Maehwa Geomgwi…”
At that moment, Ho Gameyong’s head turned violently towards Jang Ilso.
“This is…”
And then he saw it. The vile pleasure that had covered Jang Ilso’s face shattered like glass.
“R-Ryeonju…”
“Ha… hahah.”
A hollow laugh escaped Jang Ilso’s lips. At the end of that laugh, which sounded almost bewildered, Jang Ilso murmured.
“Even I didn’t foresee this? That there could be someone in this world even crazier than me…”
Jang Ilso’s face, which had been laughing, contorted more and more grotesquely. Eventually, a chilling killing intent seeped from his eyes.
“Striking at this moment? Even in this situation?”
Ho Gameyong understood. Jang Ilso’s voice carried an emotion he had never felt before.
An emotion so profound that it couldn’t be expressed in words.
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