Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 685
“Hmm.”
Yasugungju Maeng So crossed his arms and immersed himself in thought for a moment with a stern face. After taking such a pause, he spoke in a clear voice.
“This is my first time seeing him.”
Everyone’s attention was focused on him.
“Everyone may have their own way of judging people, but when I see someone for the first time, I often think of a similar animal.”
Tang Gun-ak looked at Maeng So with interesting eyes, recalling the three’s previous conversation with Chung Myung.
“That’s right. You said that when you first saw me, you thought of a black leopard?”
“Yes, that’s right. Ah, and a big python as well.”
“Hoo.”
Maeng So glanced at Tang Gun-ak and continued.
“Normally, snakes are dangerous since they often have venom, but while small snakes bare their fangs if you step on them, large pythons rarely show hostility towards humans. Even if you hit or lift them, they just seem annoyed and avoid you.”
There was a strange look in Hyun Jong’s eyes while observing Tang Gun-ak.
“When that seemingly indifferent snake goes hunting, it catches its prey with an agility that is hard to compare to other beasts, swallowing them whole. And once it’s full, it relaxes for months without hunting.”
Tang Gun-ak laughed as if he was having fun.
“Indeed, you haven’t changed. What about when you saw Maengju?”
“He seemed like a big wild buffalo. The alpha buffalo.”
This was a statement that could be understood without any further explanation.
Tang Gun-ak, who thought Maeng So’s judgment made sense, suddenly frowned.
“Weren’t you originally saying that Mount Hua Divine Dragon was like a python?”
“…A fierce weasel.”
“….”
Strangely, Tang Gun-ak laughed bitterly at the expression that seemed to be lower than before.
“Well, it makes sense…”
“A weasel, a fierce weasel. A very, very big… house-sized weasel.”
“….”
“With venom on its claws, growling all year round…”
“That’s enough.”
They didn’t need to hear more.
For now, it was undeniable that the weasel was a surprisingly fierce animal, contrary to its appearance.
Then Maeng So’s smile became a little bitter.
“But when I saw Paegun this time…”
Everyone in the room waited for Maeng So to continue. They were all very curious about what kind of animal Maeng So had thought of when he saw Jang Ilso.
“…I couldn’t think of anything. That’s why I’m afraid of him.”
Tang Gun-ak’s expression hardened slightly at Maeng So’s somewhat unexpected remark.
Maeng So’s stature was as big as a mountain. The weak words coming from him were almost unbelievable.
However, to some extent, Tang Gun-ak and Hyun Jong have already figured out and understood Maeng So’s personality.
He’s a very straightforward man, and he’s not one to hide his weakness by bluffing. Moreover, he might seem clumsy because of his large stature, but he was very cold-headed and sharp.
“Jang Ilso is like a ferocious tiger in some ways, and in other ways, he’s like a cunning fox. While he’s like a venomous snake, at times, he’s also like a giant elephant sunbathing under the scorching sun.”
Maeng So’s face distorted slightly.
“Like a brilliantly adorned peacock, and also like a crocodile hiding in the water waiting for its prey…”
Chung Myung, who was listening seriously at the time, asked Im Sobyong.
“What’s a crocodile?”
“… Do you really want to ask me that now?”
“You don’t know?”
“Yes.”
“Is it over if you don’t know?”
“….”
Im Sobyong is now more heartbroken than his face. Just as he was about to protest loudly, Hyun Jong glared at Chung Myung. Startled, Chung Myung quickly changed the subject.
“But it’s a little strange.”
“What do you mean?”
“You said you didn’t see anything. But from what you’re saying, it seems like you saw too much, didn’t you?”
Maeng So shook his head.
“Some parts could be seen. But none of them matched any beast. What I couldn’t find in the beasts stood out too distinctly.”
“What’s that?”
“Desire.”
Those who listened to Maeng So nodded stiffly.
“Of course, it’s not that beasts don’t have desires. They sometimes hunt excessively, treat the weak as playthings, and since they have no laws or morals, they can be cruel.”
“That’s harsh.”
“Because that’s the truth.”
Maeng So was calm. Yasugung Clan has always treated animals like friends, but they never worshiped them.
“But no animal is as greedy as a human. From Jang Ilso, I felt an enormous greed that was beyond imagination. It was so bizarre. I’ve never seen anyone who fits the term’ incarnation of greed’ so well.”
Everyone agreed and nodded at his words. Although they had only met Jang Ilso for a short time, he was definitely extraordinary.
“The incarnation of greed, huh…”
Tang Gun-ak swept down his chin. There wasn’t much of an expression on his face, but the slightly furrowed brow seemed to reveal his complicated feelings.
“I’ve met Jang Ilso once. That was the first time we had a proper conversation…..”
A faint whisper flowed from Tang Gun-ak’s lips, which had taken on a somber tone.
“What I find unsettling about Jang Ilso is his unpredictability.”
“…Did you say unpredictability?”
“Yes.”
Tang Gun-ak slowly closed his eyes as he recalled the sight of Jang Ilso, whom he had previously met at the Myriad Man Manor.
“Everyone has a tendency. If you figure this out, you can predict in advance how the person will behave when something happens.”
“Well… That’s right…”
“But with Jang Ilso, that’s impossible.”
Tang Gun-ak said, looking at everyone with a dimly subdued look.
“From our previous encounter, and when he set foot on Mt. Hua this time… Jang Ilso’s actions are unpredictable. In other words, no one knows what he will do now that he has left Mount Hua.”
“….”
A heavy silence descended.
It was really awkward.
Various complex emotions swept through the hearts of those gathered here, but the most prominent emotion was undoubtedly awkwardness..
There was something about Jang Ilso that irritated people’s nerves. Something so big that even the leaders of each sect couldn’t ignore it.
“First, we need to see what the hell he’s after. And we also need to figure out why he’s just now starting to take action in earnest.”
After Tang Gun-ak’s words, the eyes of the people in the room turned to Im Sobyong. He was the only one who could reasonably answer that question.
Im Sobyong rubbed his face slowly.
Nonetheless, his face, which had been swollen like a dumpling when he first entered, had mostly regained its shape due to his diligent efforts.
“Why now…….”
Im Sobyong, who had been quietly pondering, lowered his head.
“There seems to be a difference in perspective on this matter.”
“What do you mean?”
“Um……”
Im Sobyong seemed to choose his words carefully, then looked at everyone.
“As you all know, there has been a long-standing conflict between Myriad Man Manor and Nokrim.”
“That’s right.”
“But that was just a superficial relationship. Neither Myriad Man Manor nor Nokrim intended to completely annihilate each other. Nokrim needed an external enemy for internal control, and Myriad Man Manor also needed an opponent to confront.”
“Why?”
Im Sobyong explained in a calm voice.
“Suppose Myriad Man Manor destroys Nokrim and merges with it. What would happen then?”
“The balance of the Five Great Evil Sect will be broken.”
“Then who would take action?”
Hyun Jong, who had been quietly listening, narrowed his eyes.
“The Ten Great Sect and the Five Great Family.”
“Yes, it is.”
It would be impossible for anyone to fully grasp and guess Jang Ilso, but Im Sobyong was able to speculate the reason for his actions.
“A still lake will create big waves even when a small pebble is dropped. Although the world of Evil Faction and the world of Righteous Factions are different, Myriad Man Manor has become too big and strong to live without getting entangled with each other. If they expanded their power here, they would inevitably attract their attention.”
“But… in such a situation, Heavenly Comrade Alliance was created?”
“Yes.”
Im Sobyong’s eyes darkened slightly.
“Perhaps the one who welcomes the founding of Heavenly Comrade Alliance the most in the world is none other than Jang Ilso. If you set fire to a quiet forest, it will immediately catch your eye. But if you set fire to a burning forest, who would pay attention?”
“….”
“Heroes and sages are ultimately born in troubled times. Conversely…”
Im Sobyong said with cold eyes.
“It means that sages who were not born in troubled times can only rot away in a peaceful world. It’s fortunate for ordinary people, but it must be terrible for someone like Jang Ilso.”
“Humm.”
A low snort crossed Im Sobyong’s ear. It was Chung Myung.
It was rude to snort while the Nokrim King was talking, even considering the relationship between the two. But…
“……Those who don’t even know what troubled times are.”
Those who felt the darkness in the following mocking words couldn’t even think of blaming him for his rudeness.
“Ahem.”
Im Sobyong, who had been briefly lost in thought, cleared his throat shortly and continued speaking.
“There can be only one goal for Jang Ilso. To fan the flames even higher. And to plunge the world into chaos. Creating a world where he and Myriad Man Manor can go wild.”
“….”
“I can’t guess the means he’ll use, though.”
“Hmm.”
Tang Gun-ak nodded slowly.
“The existence of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance….. So he thought that his appearance in the founding ceremonly would help intensify the chaos.”
“Yes, that’s my judgment for now.”
“Chaos. Chaos, huh……”
It makes sense. No, it’s almost certainly correct. The biggest concern was not being able to find a clear purpose for Jang Ilso’s visit to Mount Hua, but if his goal was simply to cause chaos, it certainly makes his actions more understandable.
“Well then…”
“Yes.”
Im Sobyong noticed what Tang Gun-ak had to say and replied.
“He’ll be going to do something more. Definitely.”
“….”
“He will intensify the chaos and use it as a basis to do something. If it’s Jang Il-so, he will.”
“Hmm.”
Tang Gun-ak, nodding with a dark face, glanced at Chung Myung.
‘Strange.’
Normally, several shouts would have been left before the conversation progressed this far, but he didn’t give any particular opinion to the point that it was strange.
Considering the faces of those gathered, it might make sense for someone else to stay silent, but when was Chung Myung ever that type of person?
“Mount Hua Divine Dragon.”
“What?”
“What do you think?”
“Hmmmm.”
Finally, when Tang Gun-ak hinted, Chung Myung spoke with his arms folded.
“Well, I can tell that that guy named Jang Ilso is no ordinary person, but……”
“Hm?”
“Do we really need to worry about him that much?”
“….”
“The answer is already in the conversation we just had. It means he needs Heavenly Comrade Alliance, right?”
“Huh?”
“He needs chaos. Doesn’t that mean he needs a situation where the Ten Great Sect and Five Great Family can’t fully focus on the Evil Faction?”
“…I guess so.”
“Then he won’t interfere with Heavenly Comrade Alliance for at least a while. From his point of view, the bigger Heavenly Comrade Alliance, the easier it is to achieve his goal. So, it’s settled.”
“….”
Tang Gun-ak stared blankly at Chung Myung, whose energy was momentarily sapped.
This young Taoist occasionally points out the core issue too obviously. He points out the core that’s hard to notice, wrapped in ambiguous fog.
Im Sobyong looked at Chung Myung and asked.
“Is that all?”
“Huh?”
His eyes were shining strangely.
“I think once in a while that Mount Hua Divine Dragon hides what he really wants to say. Do you not care because you really think Jang Ilso won’t be a problem for the time being?”
“….”
“Or is there something else that’s really bothering you?”
Chung Myung sighed.
Im Sobyong weren’t the only one thinking that way. Chung Myung smacked his lips under the scrutinizing gazes pouring down at him.
“Well, it’s about time to talk about it.”
Chung Myung looked at everyone once and opened his mouth.
“Heavenly Demon is coming.”
His expression, tone, and voice were all excessively calm. There was no hesitation as if he was talking about an already established fact.
That’s why it felt even eerier.
“…Heavenly Demon?”
Tang Gun-ak looked at him with a slightly dazed expression.
“What are you saying now….”
“It’s just my thought for now, but it’s almost certain. Heavenly Demon will definitely return.”
The face of Tang Gun-ak, who usually wouldn’t even get excited over trivial matters, turned pale in an instant. And Maeng So’s hand began to tremble.
It seemed to show just how much of a disaster the name Heavenly Demon still was to the martial artists.
Chung Myung spoke softly as if talking to himself.
“That’s when we’ll find out.”
“….”
“What true chaos is. What a true turbulent era is like. And……”
The shadow on his face became even darker.
“What true terror is.”