Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 681
Hyun Jong stared blankly at Jang Ilso.
What had this man just said?
Brothers? The Myriad Man Manor and the Heavenly Comrade Alliance?
No, Myriad Man Manor and Mount Hua?
Hyun Jong’s eyes were so complicated that it be described.
He himself had lived a long life, meeting countless people along the way. Some were cunning, some were full of great purpose, and some were so ambiguous that it was hard to understand their intentions.
However, none of them were as difficult to deal with as Jang Ilso, who was standing before him now.
A single word, just one word, felt like it was piercing a person’s heart.
Hyun Jong bit his lips once and opened his mouth. His voice was more relaxed than at first.
“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
Jang Ilso twisted his red lips slightly upon hearing Hyun Jong’s answer.
“It’s not such a difficult story, so what’s there not to understand? It’s exactly as I said. Our Myriad Man Manor wants to join Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”
“….”
The bewilderment in Hyun Jong’s eyes was evident.
“If Myriad Man Manor joins forces with Heavenly Comrade Alliance, there will be nothing to fear in the world. Are you willing to accept Myriad Man Manor’s hand, Maengju?”
At his words, the faces of the people present turned pale.
Myriad Man Manor?
Heavenly Comrade Alliance holding hands with that Myriad Man Manor?
This was an unbelievable event.
But….
‘If this were to happen, it would truly be an incredible thing.’
The current Heavenly Comrade Alliance is strong enough to shake the martial arts world. Myriad Man Manor were to join Heavenly Comrade Alliance, a world-shaking event would unfold, forcing all existing forces to be torn apart and rewritten.
What was even more shocking was that the person who first proposed this was not the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, but Jang Ilso of Myriad Man Manor.
Anyone who knew even a little about Jang Ilso would know that he would never bow down and join someone else’s group. Yet, wasn’t he saying now that he could bow down to Heavenly Comrade Alliance?
‘What on earth is he thinking?’
Those who couldn’t keep up with Jang Ilso’s pace just watched the situation blankly, unable to sort out their tangled thoughts.
With an overwhelming presence, he crushed morale and swept the people along according to his intentions. It was as if a giant hand was grabbing and shaking those who had climbed Mount Hua.
The people could only admire at such Jang Ilso. But Hyun Jong couldn’t. He was the leader of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. He must never be swept away no matter how great his opponent is.
Hyun Jong opened his mouth calmly.
“I understand the meaning of your words, Paegun.”
Jang Ilso casts an interesting glance.
“But that’s not possible.”
“Why? Because the relationship between Myriad Man Manor and Mount Hua is not good?”
Hyun Jong looked straight at Jang Ilso.
“Although I am Sect Leader of Mount Hua, I am standing here as the leader of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. It’s not the time to discuss trivial grudges.”
“Then?”
“Myriad Man Manor and Heavenly Comrade Alliance do not go well together.”
Jang Ilso stared silently at Hyun Jong as if urging him to continue.
“Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Myriad Man Manor have different paths. There’s no reason to weave things that don’t fit together.”
“So….”
Jang Ilso’s resonant voice rippled across Mount Hua.
“You’re saying you don’t want to accept Myriad Man Manor because it’s of Evil Faction?”
“…Paegun.”
“That’s an interesting statement.”
Jang Ilso’s eyes turned to Seol So-baek and Maeng So standing behind Hyun Jong.
“Both the North Sea Ice Clan and Namman Yasugung Clan are not Righteous Factions either, but you didn’t reject them, did you? What’s the difference between them and Myriad Man Manor?”
Hyun Jong slightly closed his mouth.
The distinction between Righteous and Evil Factions is not very clear. It’s not difficult to separate them based on the direction they claim for themselves, but when a sect does not define its direction, there is no definite standard to divide them.
As Jang Ilso pointed out, the Namman Yasugung Clan was closer to Evil Faction than the Righteous Faction in the eyes of Jungwon.
“It’s strange. So, you can accept Evil Factions outside of Jungwon, but not those within because their paths are different?”
“That is….”
Hyun Jong was about to say something, but Jang Ilso chuckled and smiled before he could. It was an action that seemed to imply he wasn’t expecting an answer.
“If that’s not it!”
Kung!
Suddenly, his foot stomped on the ground. A powerful vibration spread through the ground.
“Is being a close friend of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance simply determined by whether or not they are to the liking of Maengju?”
Jang Ilso, who clicked his tongue, shook his head as if he found it pitiful.
“It’s like a child’s play.”
Having downgraded the existence of Heavenly Comrade Alliance at once, he stretched his arms out exaggeratedly. His long sleeves fluttered, and the people’s attention once again focused on him.
However, Jang Ilso, who seemed like he was about to make a loud remark, leaned back and fell silent for a moment. It was as if he was giving time for the heated gazes to cool down and the observers to moisten their dry lips.
“Paegun.”
In the meantime, Hyun Jong slowly opened his mouth.
“Those who are with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance are not determined that way.”
“Hm?”
Jang Ilso looks at Hyun Jong with interest.
“The important thing is trust. We want someone who we can leave each other’s back to. But Heavenly Comrade Alliance has not yet gained enough trust to rely on Myriad Man Manor.”
“….”
“If there ever comes a day when Heavenly Comrade Alliance can have firm trust in Myriad Man Manor, there would be no reason for us to deliberately reject Myriad Man Manor.”
Jang Ilso’s red lips rolled up, drawing lines.
“Trust… Trust…”
He slowly and leisurely nodded his head.
“That’s right. Trust. Yes, trust is important. I definitely agree with Maengju’s words.”
“….”
“Now the problem is how to gain the trust of Heavenly Comrade Alliance…”
Jang Ilso’s eyes swept through the Ten Great Sect and the Elders of Five Great Family behind Hyun Jong.
“What do you think? If we topple one of the Ten Great Sect or one of the Five Great Family, will you trust us?”
“That!”
“You, you’re crazy!”
Gasps escaped from the crowd.
Paegun Jang Ilso.
Who doesn’t know his reputation? Who wouldn’t know the strength of Myriad Man Manor that he leads?
But even so, he can’t dare to speak of the Ten Great Sect and the Five Great Family like that. It would be the same even if it were someone greater than Jang Ilso.
“Paegun!”
Unable to hold back, Qingcheng’s Yi Byeok shouted angrily.
“Your words are too much. Can you really take responsibility for what you just said?”
Then Jang Ilso turned his head slightly and looked directly at Yi Byeok.
As soon as their eyes met, Yi Byeok unknowingly took a step back.
“Ugh…”
Would this be the feeling of a beast facing a hunter?
The moment he looked into Jang Ilso’s eyes, which seemed to burn within his long and slender eye slits, he felt a pain as if a sharp knife was cutting his whole body.
‘H- How…’
Yi Byeok was greatly flustered. He knew that Jang Ilso was extraordinary, but he never imagined it would be to this extent.
“Ahahahahahahahahat!”
Jang Ilso suddenly burst into loud laughter.
“Responsibility? Responsibility, you say?”
His laughter, filled with internal strength, was truly explosive. Those with weak internal strength turned pale and hurriedly covered their ears. His laughter shook their insides and pounded their eardrums as if they would burst.
Just when it seemed like someone would cough up blood from their throat, his laughter stopped abruptly, like a lie. Then, an empty silence swept through the space chillingly.
“That’s funny.”
Jang Ilso’s voice, which was calm without a hint of humor, was hooked on the Elders of Ten Great Sect and Five Great Family.
“Those who show smiling faces to the enemy who revealed them in front of their eyes cannot endure small insults.”
He clicked his tongue as if looking down on something trivial.
“Before you get angry with me, how about dealing with the sword pointed at your throat? Being distinguished people, you shouldn’t be unaware of that fact.”
“….”
None of the gathered people could easily refute his words. Jang Ilso, who seemed to be asking anyone to answer, snickered.
“Boring.”
Then he turned his head and looked at Hyun Jong again. He brought his hands together and bowed to Hyun Jong.
“Congratulations on Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s founding once again. I hope we can forget our personal grudges and sit face to face and have a great battle.”
Hyun Jong nodded as he looked at such Jang Ilso.
“Take care.”
“Hmm.”
Jang Ilso, who had slightly bowed his head, smiled mysteriously.
“Maengju.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t think of my proposal as just a joke or empty words.”
“….”
“If that’s too difficult……”
Jang Ilso’s gaze shifted to one side.
The face of the person who met his eyes instantly turned as stiff as a stone statue.
“I can support Heavenly Comrade Alliance without revealing myself, like the Nokrim King over there.”
“….”
Nokrim King?
At the unexpected name, the people’s gazes followed Jang Ilso’s gaze. At the end, there was a nobleman in splendid attire.
‘The Nokrim King? That guy?’
‘Why is the Nokrim King here?’
With a gaze full of suspicion, Im Sobyeong bit his lips tightly.
“Hahaha.”
Despite Im Sobyeong’s sharp gaze, Jang Ilso laughed out loud and then turned his body as if he had no more business to attend to.
“I’m leaving.”
The crowd couldn’t take their eyes off his back. There were too many questions. They couldn’t understand why he had appeared in such a faraway place and carried out such a performance.
However, no one dared to question Jang Ilso. They couldn’t even muster the courage to call out, let alone ask a question.
Except for one person.
“Hey.”
“….”
Jang Ilso briefly turned his gaze back.
Chung Myung stared straight at him with a cold stare and gestured towards the chests on the floor.
“Take them and get lost. I don’t need such things.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Jang Ilso clicked his tongue and smiled brightly at Chung Myung.
“Even if you don’t like the guest, you shouldn’t refuse the gift.”
“That depends on the guest.”
“Hoo?”
Chung Myung’s eyes gradually narrowed. At the same time, his sharp gaze became increasingly rough.
“This is the last time I’ll see you alive. The next time you see me will be your last day.”
“Hmmmm.”
Jang Ilso nodded with a smile as if he liked the idea.
“Great. I’m looking forward to that day.”
Chung Myung’s fingertips, crossed over his arms, tightly gripped his arm. He held it so hard to contain his anger that his fingertips turned white.
“Get lost. My patience ends here.”
“Hahahaha! Thank you! I better run away quickly before my neck gets chopped off!”
Jang Ilso, smiling like a child who started playing tag, turned around and shouted.
“Let’s go!”
“Yes!”
Behind Jang Ilso, who walked away confidently, the Myriad Man Manor’s martial artists dressed in white and red robes followed in unison.
Though he said he was running away, his stride was far from that of a fleeing person. If anything, the power in each step was similar to that of a victorious general.
The people who his retreating figure had dumbfounded relaxed the tension in their bodies only after Jang Ilso had moved far away. Among them were even those who collapsed because their legs gave out.
Baek Cheon engraved Jang Ilso’s retreating figure in his mind, biting his lips hard enough for blood to show.
“That son of a…”
At his soft curse, Chung Myung said calmly.
“Remember, Sasuk.”
“….”
“That’s a monster.”
Baek Cheon’s eyes turned to Chung Myung.
It is rare for Chung Myung to think so highly of someone. It is safe to say that there are nonexistent.
“And he’s the one we need to put our sword in his throat.”
“….”
“Don’t forget.”
Baek Cheon nodded with a stern face.
It was an obvious statement. There was no way he could forget.
Never.