Chapter 1463
Is that what we saw? (3)
“This…”
The sight of Chengdu after being swept by Cheonumaeng left One Step One Kill [일보일살(一步一殺) – ilboilsal] Seok Hong [석홍(昔鴻)] with a grotesquely twisted face.
“You fools…”
His fingers trembled uncontrollably. The bodies scattered everywhere were not the main issue. Those thugs could always be replaced.
The critical matter was that Chengdu, which they had seized, had been ruthlessly trampled by Cheonumaeng.
“D-Daeju!”
Survivors from Maninbang, who barely escaped death, rushed over. Killing intent flared in Seok Hong’s eyes.
“Where are they?”
“They left quite a while ago…”
“Pursuit?”
The subordinates hung their heads low, unable to answer. Seok Hong’s face contorted further.
“Are you saying you didn’t even form a pursuit team? What were you doing?”
“Chasing them… was futile. With Hwasan Geomhyeop Chung Myung and the sect leaders of Cheonumaeng’s affiliated sects, even if we pursued them…”
“This…”
The grinding of Seok Hong’s teeth was audible. The onlookers, their hair standing on end, bowed their heads even lower.
“So? You didn’t pursue them, you didn’t fight them, you just cowered like rats? And you call yourselves members of Maninbang?”
“An… unstoppable force…”
“Unstoppable force?”
“At least we didn’t lose much wealth. Their numbers were small, so…”
“What did you say?”
“…What?”
Seok Hong glared at the speaker with a hardened face.
“Are you saying they also took Chengdu’s treasures?”
“Th-that is…”
“What about Four Seas merchant guild? What happened to them? Danju specifically ordered you to keep a close watch on them!”
The faces of those in front turned pale.
“Answer me. What happened to Four Seas merchant guild?”
“Cheonumaeng’s bastards…”
“What?”
“Cheonumaeng’s bastards took them all…”
Flash!
Like lightning, Seok Hong’s blade-like blast of energy pierced a man’s body. Without even a scream, the man fell, split in two, blood spraying like a fountain.
Gritting his teeth so hard it seemed they might break, Seok Hong’s eyes were bloodshot with rage.
“Those damn Cheonumaeng scum! Aaaaargh!”
His furious roar echoed through the streets of Chengdu.
❀ ❀ ❀
The tent was so luxurious that it was hard to believe it was just temporary.
Inside, Ho Gamyeong looked at Jang Ilso, who sat on a large chair covered with leopard skins. Jang Ilso’s face, with closed eyes, was clearly stiff. It wasn’t a subtle change that only Ho Gamyeong could recognize – it was evident to anyone present.
For Jang Ilso to show such expression in front of others was truly rare.
“Ryeonju.”
Ho Gamyeong broke the silence, finally opening his mouth.
“We’ve mobilized as many men as possible and sent them to Chengdu. We should be able to suppress them soon. Don’t be too concerned.”
But Ho Gamyeong found his own words somewhat ironic. What difference would it make to gather troops now? Those bastards would surely ravage Chengdu and retreat before Sapaeryeon’s reinforcements even arrived.
‘Damn it.’
Neither Jang Ilso nor Ho Gamyeong were fools. They had been considering the possibility of enemies targeting the vacated Chengdu from the very beginning.
However, what they hadn’t anticipated was not the enemy’s attack, but the identities of those attacking. No one in the world would have imagined such an absurdly small elite force.
‘Cheonumaeng.’
Some might not consider them particularly formidable. After all, they hadn’t retaken Chengdu, and their intrusion into empty house might seem no more than petty theft and vandalism.
But Ho Gamyeong didn’t see it that way.
The scars they had left on Chengdu and Sapaeryeon were far larger and more devastating than expected.
What would change if Sapaeryeon took control of Chengdu?
Gaining control of Chengdu didn’t make Sapaeryeon stronger. Nor were they immediately desperate for Chengdu’s resources.
Yet, the fact that they had taken Chengdu sent shockwaves throughout the realm because it served as evidence of Sapaeryeon’s power being enough to trample Chengdu underfoot and seize it.
Sometimes, appearances mattered more than actual power. By taking Chengdu, Sapaeryeon gained more than just the destruction of Emei, Qingcheng, and Diancang.
But now, due to the moves made by Cheonumaeng, part of the painstakingly built tower had collapsed miserably.
Seeing the chaos in Chengdu, observers would come to realize that while Sapaeryeon had the power to conquer Chengdu, they lacked the power to defend it.
“Hoo…”
A sigh escaped from Ho Gamyeong’s lips. Now was not the time for such thoughts.
“If you’re genuinely worried, I’ll lead the troops and go to Chengdu myself. Then…”
At that moment, Jang Ilso opened his eyes.
Ho Gamyeong involuntarily flinched. The look in Jang Ilso’s eyes, albeit fleeting, was as chilling as to make even him, who had spent years together, shrink back.
“What’s lost is lost. Clinging and crying won’t bring the dead back to life.”
Ho Gamyeong knew this fact well enough. But…
“Even so, it won’t be meaningless.”
“Hmm.”
A short sigh escaped from Jang Ilso’s lips. Not the usual light sigh, but a heavy one that made the listener uncomfortable.
“Seems like even you’ve lost your edge, Gamyeong-ah.”
“Um… yes?”
“The losses suffered during the attack on Chengdu are probably greater than you think. Both Gupailbang and the Cheonumaeng will have their own interpretations of this event. And those bastards can exploit that fact as much as they want. A sip of water might not seem like much, but to someone dying of thirst, it could change their fate.”
Ho Gamyeong’s face hardened. It seemed that Jang Ilso was taking this situation more seriously than he had anticipated.
“In that case, Ryeonju. Should we…”
“But!”
At that moment, a strong and resolute voice burst from Jang Ilso’s lips. It was a chilling voice that sent shivers down the spine.
“If something’s lost, finding it again should be enough. That’s not what’s important. There are far more crucial matters at hand.”
A questioning look filled Ho Gamyeong’s eyes. Jang Ilso’s voice softened.
“What’s different?”
Wrinkles formed on his smooth white forehead.
“It’s unthinkable. In the past, they would never have dared to come to Chengdu. And if they did, they would have brought everyone, both the living and the dead, shedding tears along the way.”
“…”
“But what’s changed to make them resort to such measures? Did I misunderstand those bastards from Cheonumaeng?”
It finally dawned on Ho Gamyeong what Jang Ilso was implying.
It was such a fundamental thing.
Failure is painful. But what’s even more important is how you recover from it. However, from a long-term perspective, failures and losses are trivial. What truly matters is the cause. Understanding why something happened is crucial to avoid the same mistakes in the future.
“Aren’t they placing undue importance on the stronghold of the Tang clan? Perhaps there’s something hidden in the Tang clan’s manor that we weren’t aware of…”
Jang Ilso didn’t respond.
Normally, if Jang Ilso disagreed with Ho Gamyeong’s words, he would either offer a retort or burst into laughter. But the current Jang Ilso was coldly disregarding Ho Gamyeong’s words.
Isn’t that evidence enough that the thoughts and feelings harbored by Jang Ilso right now are far more profound than what Ho Gamyeong anticipated?
“Profit. Authority. Stratagem. Inclination.”
“…”
“Can such things explain what happened?”
Jang Ilso muttered slowly.
“Gamyeong-ah.”
“Yes, Ryeonju.”
“It’s a first.”
“…What do you mean?”
The rough voice, like scraping on the metal, pierced through Jang Ilso’s lips.
“It’s like… feeling like someone’s playing games inside my head.”
“…”
“When someone says their insides are twisted, does it mean talking about things like this.”
A determined vigor emanated from Jang Ilso’s face.
Ho Gamyeong simply couldn’t understand him. Despite the bitter sting of defeat in the attack on Chengdu, the fact remained: Sapaeryeon emerged as the victor, with Jang Ilso at its helm. The world would both curse and praise Jang Ilso.
Yet, why was Jang Ilso fixating on trivial mistakes rather than reveling in this monumental triumph?
“Hah.”
Thunk.
At that moment, the armrest of the chair Jang Ilso was holding was crushed. Simultaneously, the cover of the chair tore and fluttered away.
“It’s hard to bear, Gamyeong. The thought of him laughing at me, knowing he defeated me, feels like a knife twisting in my gut.”
“Ryeonju…”
Thunk.
A trickle of red blood flowed from Jang Ilso’s tightly clenched lips.
As his lips turned a darker shade of crimson, Jang Ilso’s glistening eyes twisted.
“Hwasan Geomhyeop…”
It was vivid. The laughing face of Hwasan Geomhyeop. His mocking gaze.
“Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
A voice laden with hatred whimpered forth.
❀ ❀ ❀
“Hehehe.”
“…”
“Hehehehehehe.”
“…”
“Hehehehehehehehehehe!”
“…”
The men pulling the cart looked at the person who had climbed onto it with hollow eyes.
“Hehehehehehehe! It sparkles! It glimmers! Hehehehehe! Shiny and sparkly!”
Walking cautiously alongside them, Jo Ung, the Young Master of Four Seas merchant guild, cautiously asked his younger brother.
“Um… sorry, Geol, um… I heard it, but just to confirm… that person?”
“Y-yes.”
“No… It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just that…”
“No, I’m telling you, it’s true! That person… he’s the top expert of Hwasan.”
At that moment, Five Swords, who were beside Jo Geol, weakly interjected.
“The Supreme Master of the Highest Peak.”
“The General in charge of Cheonumaeng.”
“That person who makes Sapaeryeon tremble in fear…”
Jo Ung’s gaze returned. Sitting atop the glittering pile of treasures, Chung Myung was now scattering the gold pieces he held in his hand above his head.
“Hehehehe! Money! Money! It’s moneyyy! What on earth is this!”
…Jo Ung’s hand trembled slightly. That? That person… No, can I even call that thing a human?
“Is he, by any chance…?”
“Yes, he’s a Taoist.”
“…So, by any chance…?”
“Yes, he’s always like this. It’s not because he’s injured or has gone mad due to inner demons.”
Jo Ung was at a loss for words. Five Swords glanced up at Chung Myung and nodded, seemingly relieved.
“He’s actually in pretty good shape today.”
“He must have felt relieved after causing a ruckus in Chengdu. If he had gotten that much money when he was anxious and irritable, he would have been bathing in it.”
“Indeed.”
Jo Ung’s eyes twitched. Jo Geol shrugged and spoke to his older brother.
“Don’t worry, Brother.”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
Jo Geol smiled.
“Despite appearances, he’s more reliable than you think.”
“Hehehehehe!”
“He can be quite dependable and, surprisingly, thoughtful.”
“Ahahahahahaha!”
“I’m learning a lot from him. He’s someone you can trust, so keep an eye on him, Brother.”
“Money! Money! Free moneyyyy!”
“…”
As Jo Ung alternated his gaze between the smiling Jo Geol and the glowing Chung Myung, tears welled up in his eyes.
“Geol-ah…”
What kind of battles have you been fighting… It was the first moment Jo Ung regretted sending his younger brother to Hwasan.
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