Chapter 982: This Is Why the World Is Interesting (Part 2)

"Thank you for your hard work, Ryeonjul."

"Hmm."

Jang Ilso, who had climbed onto the boat, smiled bitterly. Seeing his expression, Ho Gakmyung asked with a slightly puzzled look.

"Was there a problem?"

"A problem... well, I'm not sure if you can call it a problem."

"..."

"Black Dragon King will be sent back, and the war has stopped. I've got everything I wanted."

"Then why..."

"Hmm."

Jang Ilso glanced around at Plum Blossom Island and lowered his head.

"No."

Cutting off the conversation, he quickly gave instructions with a grim expression.

"Convey this to the Su Lo Chae faction. Tell them not to touch those leaving Plum Blossom Island and send them back safely."

"Yes, Ryeonjul."

Having given the order to his subordinates, Ho Gakmyung stared at Jang Ilso in silence.

"What?"

"...I understand that I can't dare to guess what you intend to do. However..."

"Tsk, don't beat around the bush and ask. What's the big deal?"

A hint of suspicion appeared in Ho Gakmyung's eyes.

"The Black Dragon King is undoubtedly important. Without him, Su Lo Chae would lose control. It would be fortunate if we can safely absorb them, but, then again, neither the Hao Sect or the Black Ghost Castle would sit back and watch, right?"

"That's right."

"However... even if we let them go like this, isn't it a bit disappointing? At least we could have inflicted some damage. They were surrounded with their feet tied up in Plum Blossom Island."

"Hmm, that's true. Your point is valid."

"So, how..."

Jang Ilso opened his mouth with a sigh.

"It's simple. First, letting them return to Gangnam safely is more advantageous to me than letting them die. Also, it's not easy for them to be swallowed up by us. They will be too wary. However, we have something else to consider."

"Second,…"

Jang Ilso smiled mischievously as he turned to Ho Gakmyung and abruptly asked a question.

"How do you view Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword?"

When the term "Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword" came out of Jang Ilso's mouth, Ho Gakmyung's expression hardened.

"How do I view him?"

As someone who had observed the situation in Plum Blossom Island, wasn't the answer to such a question obvious?

"He's a monster."

"That's right."

Jang Ilso nodded quietly.

"It makes me wonder whether he was even born from a human womb. I remember the martial skills he displayed last time. It's been just three years, but..."

Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword had defeated Black Dragon King single-handedly. This meant that Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword should now be recognized as a top expert in Kangho.

In the context of Murim, Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword was an existence that surpassed Ho Gakmyung's recognition and common sense.

"That's why he's dangerous. Very."

"Yes, he's dangerous."

Jang Ilso raised the corner of his mouth.

"But Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword is dangerous not because he's strong."

Ho Gakmyung didn't immediately grasp the meaning.

"What do you mean?"

Jang Ilso turned his head slightly toward the direction of Chung Myung.

"A strong person is just something to be wary of, but they're not necessarily difficult to deal with. If you can't win alone, then two can fight, and if you can't win with two, three can try."

That was the way of the Evil Sect. Ho Gakmyung nodded in agreement. However, he didn't quite understand the point Jang Ilso was making.

Jang Ilso's eyes grew slightly colder.

"Those who are strong in martial arts are not truly strong. True strength lies in how to survive. But the problem is..."

His words trailed off, and his eyes became sharp for a moment.

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword knows how to survive."

"…Yes?"

In Jang Ilso's slightly clouded expression, there was a hint of concern.

"Gakmyung."

"Yes, Ryeonjul."

"Do you really think Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword rushed into Plum Blossom Island without any plans?"

"... ... ..."

"No. It's impossible. There's no way that a person with as many snakes in his belly as a demon would recklessly act without calculating anything. Although it all started impulsively, during the time they rushed up to here, they must have finished their calculations."

"That... that's..."

"There they come."

Jang Ilso nodded towards the river. Turning his gaze in that direction, Ho Gakmyung immediately widened his eyes.

More than a dozen boats had come into view, and it was apparent at a glance that there were over a dozen of them.

"What is that...?"

"Those must be the boats summoned by Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. They're probably here to escape from Plum Blossom Island."

"But, haven't you already ordered nearby boats to be taken over by the Su Lo Chae?"

"That's right. However, isn't there someone who has the resources to send a few boats like that even through all the obstructions I set up?"

"...Yes?"

Jang Ilso chuckled.

"I'm talking about someone who clings to the righteous sects like a leech, yet hasn't shown his face a single time."

Ho Gakmyung bit his lip hard.

"... ... ... Im Sobyeong."

"That's right. It's him."

Jang Ilso chuckled. But unlike him, Ho Gakmyung's face lost color for a moment.

So, were you saying that Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword prepared the boats through Nokrim's power, while running their hardest to get here to save Namgung from Plum Blossom Island safely?

"But a naval battle..."

"There's no need to fight a naval battle. If they just sprinkle a few boats, they can use them like the planks."

"... ... ..."

A cold sweat ran down Ho Gakmyung's back.

Among the many people gathered along the riverbank, each one was a formidable martial artist known throughout the world. However, how many of them would realize that there was such a deep strategy behind this battle with so many warships involved?

"Well, then?"

Ho Gakmyung's face turned pale as if he had understood something.

"Ryeonjul, even though you suspected that Im Sobyeong was steering the ship, did you still enter Plum Blossom Island alone?"

"That's right. So, was there any reason not to?"

"Oh, no..."

"It's the same either way. No matter how great he is, you can't gamble on a ship that may or may not arrive on time."

Ho Gakmyung sighed deeply as he watched the approaching fleet cutting through the water's current.

The more he listened, the more chilling the story became. But even stranger was the fact that Jang Ilso, who had barely escaped the danger of losing his life if he had made even a slight mistake, was strangely smiling.

"Do you understand now? Why I'm letting them go like this?"

"Yes, Ryeonjul."

As long as they had prepared the ships, they could have escaped from the island, even if they suffered some damage. If things had gone that way, the Black Dragon King would have undoubtedly lost his life.

"That's a clear loss for our side."

Rather than that, it would be better to return the Black Dragon King and let them go peacefully.

"I can't remember when was the last time I felt like this."

"Ryeonjul."

"Hmm."

Jang Ilso cast a subtle gaze at Plum Blossom Island once again.

"Gakmyung."

"Yes."

"Send what we've prepared. Anyway, the result is just as I wanted it, so I guess I should give them one gift."

"I will do so."

Waving his hand as if it were a hassle, Jang Ilso slowly walked away. His eyes calmly sank as he braved the river wind. At the end of his gaze was Plum Blossom Island.

"In this world, if you gain something, you also lose something."

His red lips silently traced a smile.

"Do you know what you've lost now?"

It didn't matter whether you knew or not. Just because you knew it didn't mean you could do anything about it.

* * *

"Hurry up, you useless human!"

Chung Myung, watching the approaching fleet from the railing, gritted his teeth. If that slowpoke had arrived even a bit earlier, he could have had that darn Jang Ilso's head on a plate.

"Tsk."

Now, Plum Blossom Island was quite far away. The enemies on board were merely watching them disembark.

With the Black Dragon King as a hostage in the hands of the Mount Hua Sect, and Jang Ilso now joining their side, there was nothing more they could do.

At that moment, a man approached Chung Myung.

"Dojang."

"Hmm?"

When Chung Myung turned his head, he saw the staggering figure of Namgung Dowi coming towards him. He approached Chung Myung and took a deep breath before bowing deeply. It was not the traditional martial artist's salute, but a formal bow.

This was a sign of respect shown by a human, not a martial artist.

"Thank you so much, truly."

Chung Myung stared at Namgung Dowi with an expressionless face. Then, further away, the Five Swords started to whisper to each other.

"Why is he acting like this?"

"Leave him alone. How many times in your life have you heard someone say thank you? You've probably heard it like it's as common as eating rice, but it's just empty words."

These bastards?

Just as Chung Myung was about to give them a stern look, Namgung Dowi raised his head.

"Thanks to Dojang Chung, Namgung will be able to carry on the family name. I am truly grateful for the opportunity. But I wonder how to repay such a favor..."

"Gratitude can come later."

"...What?"

"What you shouldn't forget first is hatred."

Chung Myung glanced briefly to the side, revealing the figure of the Black Dragon King who had lost consciousness.

"How about it, even now? There's no need to keep the promise you made with those Evil Sect bastards, right?"

He meant killing the Black Dragon King. But Namgung Dowi raised his head without a hint of hesitation.

"No."

"Hooh?"

Despite having a hard time, Namgung Dohi's eyes didn't waver at all.

"Killing the Black Dragon King here isn't about Namgung's revenge. It'll be just my venting. Someday, I'll have the power to defeat the Black Dragon King and honor the spirits of the deceased with my strength."

Chung Myung nodded as if he were satisfied. And Namgung Dowi added a remark that wasn't necessary.

"My father would hope for that too."

When the story turned to Namgung Hwang, the deck momentarily fell silent.

Nodding slightly, Chung Myung lightly patted Namgung Dowi's shoulder.

"Yeah, that's the plan."

It was precisely when Namgung Dowi lightly pursed his lips.

"Chung Myung-ah!"

"Yes?"

"A ship is approaching."

"What?"

Chung Myung sprinted to the other side of the deck in alarm.

But, to his surprise, the approaching ship was a small rowboat carrying only one person. It was the same small boat that Jang Ilso had been riding just a while ago.

"What is this?"

Chung Myung furrowed his brows.

But, fortunately, it wasn't Jang Ilso on the boat. It was someone he had seen a few times by Jang Ilso's side.

As the rowboat reached Chung Myung's ship, a large voice rang out.

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword!"

Without responding, Chung Myung narrowed his eyes.

"A gift from Ryeonjul."

The person grabbed a large object that had been placed on the rowboat.

'A coffin?'

Chung Myung's eyes slightly widened as he saw the massive coffin flying over the boat to his ship.

Thud!

Chung Myung wordlessly received the coffin. 

Ho Gakmyung, who had been silently observing him, turned the boat around as if his business was concluded.

A strange silence settled over the ship.

Chung Myung carefully lowered the coffin and looked at Namgung Dowi. Namgung Dowi, with trembling hands, slowly opened the coffin lid, as if he had guessed what was inside.

And...

"My Lord!"

"Heok-heok-heok-heok! My Lord!"

"Uwaaaaaaaaah!"

As the coffin opened, the attendants and guards of the Namgung Family burst into tears.

Namgung Hwang.

It was a truly heartbreaking scene, but what was inside the coffin was undoubtedly his remains.

"Father! Father! Heok...."

Namgung Dowi, holding the remains, sat down and wept.

He had thought that Namgung Hwang would be left motionless under the cold river, and they would have to leave without recovering his body. But Namgung Hwang's remains had been returned in such an unexpected manner, causing his heart to tremble.

As Chung Myung looked at Namgung Dowi and the mourners with his dark eyes, he turned his gaze toward the distant ship.

'...Damn you.'

He felt a deep hatred.

The day he would truly understand Jang Ilso would never come. They would forever run on parallel lines.

But...

"At least you do something humane once in a while."

Chung Myung muttered before briskly turning around.

On the ship heading to the northern bank of the river, the mournful cries continued for a long time.