Chapter 895: It Is Better to Die Than Not to Possess It (Part 5)

[fixed]

"Hmm."

Chung Myung let out a long breath and lightly scratched his cheek.

"...I was planning to relax and enjoy myself for a bit."

"Don't joke around."

"But I'm serious."

"...."

As Baek Cheon looked at Chung Myung with an indescribable sense of disdain, Chung Myung waved his hand with an irritated expression.

"Why are you looking at me like that? It's not up to me."

"Huh?"

"It's up to those bastards."

No one was unsure of who Chung Myung was referring to when he said "those bastards."

"...The Evil Tyrant Alliance."

"That's right."

As Baek Cheon spoke as if in pain, Chung Myung nodded lightly.

"It's a valid point, but..."

Yoon Jong tilted his head and spoke.

"But according to Buntaju Hong's [our local beggar] words, there's a possibility that the Evil Tyrant Alliance might not be able to move due to internal conditions."

"That won't happen."

"Huh?"

Chung Myung shrugged.

"There could definitely be infighting. But that won't delay anything. They won't be held back by something like that."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The already knew that the Four Great Evils weren't ordinary. Didn't they all witness the power they possessed on the Yangtze River?

These were the ones who held their ground against the formidable Ten Great Sects and the leaders of the Five Great Families, not giving an inch. In fact, in some ways, they even overwhelmed them.

But...

'Would they become a hindrance to Jang Ilso?'

Even if they did, he wasn't the kind of person to waste time. Jang Ilso was the type who would cut off his own ankle and continue on his path.

Baek Cheon's face hardened as he thought about it.

He wasn't underestimating the Four Great Evils. It was just that Jang Ilso's presence was so significant that it led to this conclusion.

"Indeed, if it's Jang Ilso..."

Chung Myung, nodding, said thoughtfully.

"And think about it. We know it, and the Beggar's Union knows it, and the Righteous Sects know it. Would Jang Ilso not know it?"

"...Of course, he must know."

"Right. If he knows, he'll be prepared. There's no way he wouldn't think of what I would do."

Baek Cheon looked at Chung Myung with a fresh perspective.

It was a well-known fact that Chung Myung despised Jang Ilso more than anyone in the world. But hearing this, one might think that, in some way, Chung Myung also respected Jang Ilso the most.

'It's almost irritating.'

Who could make such words come out of that darn guy's mouth?

"And they have already started moving."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

Jo Gol asked with widened eyes, and Chung Myung chuckled.

"Is it really a coincidence that those Evil Sect bastards invaded Shaanxi this time?"

Yoon Jong shook his head.

"I think that's a bit too far-fetched. We've investigated those Guangzhou Seven Assassins, but Galcheonrip had no connection with the Evil Sect. Besides, he's not the kind of person who would listen to Jang Ilso's words."

Chung Myung pierced Yoon Jong with his gaze and shook his head.

"Sahyung." ['senior martial brother']

"Huh?"

"Sahyung is all fine, but being too kind is the problem."

"...Is that an insult?"

Considering who that person was, it definitely wasn't a compliment. Absolutely not.

"Taking matters into your own hands is for amateurs. A true master creates the conditions for things to happen without having to personally intervene."

Chung Myung said as he brought another glass of liquor and took a sip.

"No matter how wide Gangnam is, if Jang Ilso sets his mind to it, he could have cut their throats before those guys from Guangzhou even made it to Gangbuk. It's a situation where they've even taken over the Yangtze River. It's stranger to let them go now."

"...So did Jang Ilso purposely send those guys to Shaanxi?"

"That's right."

"Why?"

Baek Cheon asked with a puzzled expression, and Chung Myung shrugged.

"I don't know either."

"..."

At that, everyone's eyes dimmed. There was a subtle sense of contempt.

Checking their reactions, Chung Myung suddenly contorted his face.

"No, am I some kind of mind reader? How am I supposed to know what that crazy bastard is thinking?"

"I thought you might."

"Well, crazy people tend to understand each other."

"Even if the whole world doesn't know, you have to know."

"...Those darn guys."

Chung Myung downed his drink as if his throat was burning. Although it sounded like a joke, his eyes were darker than before. As if the unsaid words had sunk into his eyes.

'Jang Ilso...'

He put the bottle down and snuck a glance as he spoke again.

"All you need to know is the one sure thing."

"Sure thing?"

Chung Myung nodded.

"He's going to make a move."

The room fell silent.

It was a fact that everyone knew. After all, wasn't it because they had guessed that fact so they had endured the grueling training, right?

Baek Cheon nodded.

"We need to prepare before that. So that we can face whatever ridiculous things Jang Ilso does."

"Uh..."

Chung Myung briefly looked at Baek Cheon and smiled.

"We prepared to the point of throwing up. Didn't we?"

"Right."

"...Well, I almost threw up until to the point my mouth was bitter."

"Oh, are you talking about when you threw up back then?"

"You threw up, too, you bastard!"

Yoon Jong kicked Jo Gol's foot. However, Jo Gol, who had clearly grown over the past three years, now showed the determination to respond even while being beaten.

"I just spilled a little, but Sahyung threw up everything he had for breakfast!"

"When did I ever!"

Yoon Jong protested with an indignant face. However, there was no need to tease Yoon Jong about that fact. In fact, such incidents during their rigorous training were just minor events that they laughed off.

"Rather than preparing, we should clean up."

"Clean up?"

"Yeah, clean up."

Chung Myung raised the corner of his mouth slightly.

"We need to tidy up the mess we're in a bit. It'll be easier to deal with Jang Ilso when he turns things upside down and charges in. Most importantly... we need to figure out how to deal with those darn Ten Great Sect guys."

As the topic of the Ten Great Sects came up, a boiling anger resurfaced on Chung Myung's face. Hye Yeon flinched and discreetly averted his gaze.

"So we have to start brainstorming now."

Chung Myung's voice carried confidence.

"Because soon, we'll have plenty of fighting to do."

Everyone nodded with determined faces.

As the atmosphere quickly became somber, Chung Myung lightly shook the bottle in his hand.

"So, let's just drink today."

"That's not a bad idea."

"He occasionally says something sensible, too."

The atmosphere brightened again. Everyone emptied their bottles as if competing with each other. Watching them, Chung Myung leaned against the wall and chuckled.

'They deserve it.'

In the past, Chung Myung would have cursed at the young ones for showing off, but now such words didn't suit these individuals. Over the past three years, they endured training that couldn't be described with words like "brutal" without a single complaint.

Even the previous Chung Myung would have had a hard time enduring that kind of training at their age. Of course, he would have endured it, but...

- Who? You? Really?

"Hey, I'm talking seriously." [not sure]

"Huh?"

"...No, it's nothing."

Chung Myung quietly distorted his face.

Anyways.

Those who had been pushed so hard needed a well-deserved rest. It wasn't like Chung Myung stole the alcohol from the storeroom because he really wanted to drink...

- This guy's being a pain.

"No, seriously!"

"Why do you keep saying that?"

"...Hmph."

Unable to vent anywhere, Chung Myung let out a deep sigh.

"More than that..."

Suddenly, a gloomy look appeared in his eyes.

'He's definitely plotting something.'

Jang Ilso probably wouldn't start a war blatantly by crossing the Yangtze River. He was the kind of person who would somehow create a battlefield that was advantageous to him and swing it according to his will. 

The recent quiet from the Evil Tyrant Alliance certainly meant that he was preparing something. Sorting out the internal strife within that Evil Sect and deciding on a decisive move to lead them to victory against the Ten Great Sects.

"...Well, that's how it is."

Muttering quietly, Chung Myung twisted the corner of his mouth.

No matter how clever the strategy, it was meaningless if the skills weren't there. Chung Myung felt it keenly during the battle on the Yangtze River.

Now, it was the other way around. Chung Myung... no, Mount Hua was going to let Jang Ilso know about that fact.

"Sasuk. Why is that guy laughing in such a creepy way?"

"I told you to leave him alone. It looks like the mania has taken over again."

"It seems like it's gotten worse these days."

"If he gets any crazier, it'll be hard to consider him human."

No, let's just...go with what Chung Myung is telling us.

Yeah.

* * *

"We've finished handling the compensation."

"Good."

"We've properly arranged the corpses left behind by the Evil Sect in the villages they raided, and the survivors have been transferred to nearby villages. We promised support in the name of Mount Hua and the Eunha Guild, so there shouldn't be much backlash."

"That's good to hear."

"It is said that sect leader Wirelipsan, who went to Nanjing, is also returning after handling the bodies."

Hyun Jong nodded quietly as he listened to the report.

With this, Mount Hua's tasks in Xi'an were complete. It took a little longer than expected, but it allowed them to finish everything more cleanly.

"Guild Master."

When Hyun Jong called him 'Guild Master,' Hwang Jongui tensed up slightly. He had a hunch that this was going to be a public statement.

"Yes, Sect Leader."

Hyun Jong opened his mouth and looked at Hwang Jongui.

"You've been through a lot."

"Oh, no, it's not..."

Hwang Jongui replied with embarrassment and waved his hand. Hyun Jong gave him a warm smile.

"I'm not just saying this because of the recent events. It is difficult for me to lift my head after knowing how much suffering Guild Master went through during Mount Hua's Bongmun."

"Thank you, Sect Leader."

Hyun Jong bowed slightly to Hwang Jongui.

"Thank you for everything you've done for the lacking Mount Hua."

Hwang Jongui exclaimed in alarm and tried to dissuade Hyun Jong.

"Why are you saying this, Sect Leader! Mount Hua is lacking? How can you say such a thing! Mount Hua is certainly not lacking."

Hyun Jong raised his head slightly in response to his words.

"You say it's not lacking?"

"Yes, I do."

Hyun Jong turned his gaze to a particular place. Then, he stared straight at it and asked again.

"...Do you truly believe that?"

"..."

Hwang Jongui fell silent for a moment, unable to speak.

This was because at the end of Hyun Jong's gaze, there were a group of Mount Hua disciples who were banging their heads on the floor.

"Kuung..."

"Head..."

"Jo Gol, you bastard... Who's using my strength? Do you want to die?"

"...And he's nagging about that again...."

A roar erupted from Hyun Jong's mouth.

"Why aren't you bowing properly, you miserable bunch!"

The people here were not the Mount Hua's disciples who had quietly returned to the Eunha Guild lodgings in the early morning after spending the night indulging in alcohol. These were the notorious troublemakers that had partied all night, causing a ruckus with liquor, and only returned in the morning reeking of alcohol...

'Idiots!'

'Why didn't you wake us up?'

'To think I believed in these people as comrades.'

Hyun Jong's furious voice fell upon the backs of Mount Hua's Five Swords, who were exchanging sharp glances.

"In fact, everything hasn't been resolved yet. Alcohol? Alcohol!? Sneaking into someone else's warehouse to drink alcohol? And you call yourselves martial artists? You dare call yourselves Taoists!"

At that moment, Chung Myung, who had his head bowed, suddenly raised his hand.

"What?"

"Well... hehe. I admit we were wrong, but if you look at it in a certain way, the Eunha Guild and us aren't that different..."

"What, you?"

The moment his mouth opened, Hyun Jong tried to pounce on him, but Hyun Young and Hyun Sang quickly held him back from both sides.

"Sect Leader, please calm down!"

"Others are watching, Sect Leader!"

"That's the problem!"

Hyun Jong, like a thunderbolt, glared at the elders as if he were going to devour them.

"Aren't I doing this because others are watching? Because I care what others think! I can't live because I'm worldly!"

"Ahem."

"In the past, this guy used to cause trouble alone, but now..."

At those words, everyone, including Baek Cheon, flinched and closed their eyes.

"Three years of suffering, and I thought he'd mature, but he's even worse than before! Worse! What is Mount Hua coming to!"

Hyun Jong, who was exhausted from losing his temper, sighed and turned his head. Then he took Hwang Jongui's hand and bowed his head.

"Thank you so much for being with this wretched Mount Hua...."

"..."

Looking at the face filled with sorrow and injustice, Hwang Jongui couldn't say a word. He could only close his mouth.

Hyun Jong, who offered an apology for taking alcohol and showing an unsightly side, suddenly raised his head.

"Hyun Sang, Hyun Young."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"Prepare, right away."

"Yes?"

"We're returning to Mount Hua."

Hyun Sang looked at Hyun Jong with a happy expression.

"Now that we've finished our work, returning to Mount Hua..."

"I can't stay here any longer, my reputation is tarnished! Pack your things immediately! Right now!"

"..."

"Quickly!"

"Okay."

And so, the return of the Mount Hua Sect was abruptly decided.