Chapter 1028: Just Understand (Part 3)

Sharp, piercing eyes. Lips chapped and cracked, skin reminiscent of rough bark, a lifeless face – it all spoke of the hardships that the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold had endured.

But even without looking at his face, it wasn't difficult to guess what he had been through. Above all, the severed arm, missing from just below his shoulder, clearly explained his situation.

The Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold looked at the person sitting across from him with a weary face. The man, who lounged halfway on the throne, gazed down at the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, his legs crossed. His gaze was arrogant, to say the least.

It was impossible to discern if the expression in his eyes was contempt, concern, or perhaps even mockery. It could have been a mixture of all these emotions, or perhaps something entirely different.

The Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold deliberately stretched his shoulders. If he didn't do that, his shoulders would involuntarily hunch up.

Was there a crime he had committed? 

Certainly, that could be the case, but it wasn't the whole story. In just three years, the Jang Ilso he faced was no longer the Jang Ilso he had known.

In just three short years, Jang Ilso had turned into someone who was perfectly suited for that throne. Even the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold seemed to be overshadowed by his presence.

"...A rather dull joke."

Jang Ilso said in a drowsy voice.

"The Black Dragon King lost his arm in Plum Blossom Island not too long ago, and now the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold shows up with his arm missing... We might have to consider hiring a skilled prosthetist from the Evil Tyrant Alliance at this rate."

"..."

When the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold didn't respond, Jang Ilso sighed. There's nothing more tedious than having a conversation with someone who doesn't appreciate humor.

"Fine, why don't you say something?"

In response to that comment, the vacant pupils of the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold locked onto Jang Ilso.

"Make excuses or persuade me, it doesn't matter. Whether returning from Demonic Sect after fighting as you please and losing an arm will save your face is another matter."

A cruel gleam, laced with a hint of amusement, pierced the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold. It was quite different from the near-lifeless look in the eyes of the Great Master, who was almost like a corpse.

However, the current Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold wasn't particularly fearful of that gaze. His experiences had been too shocking for him to fear that gaze.

"...Bishop..."

The Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold forcibly moved his lips that didn't seem to want to part.

"That is... not a human."

Jang Ilso's eyes narrowed with a cold, contemplative look.

"So, you've learned something remarkable in exchange for one arm."

"...I'm not trying to make excuses, Ryeonjul."

The Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold's lips began to tremble slightly. Even thinking about the bishop himself was a difficult and painful endeavor.

"Nothing worked. Absolutely nothing... I couldn't even hurt that monster, not even with the sword I thrust into its chest."

The moment these words left his lips, Jang Ilso's eyebrows twitched.

Setting aside personal feelings for the Great Master, his skill in swordsmanship was something Jang Ilso couldn't deny.

However, could there really be someone who could leave the Great Master without any wounds whatsoever?

'It's unreal.'

Jang Ilso leaned forward slightly against the backrest.

"Tell me more."

"In all my years... it was the first time I faced something like that. It's something humans can't do anything about. Nothing worked... truly, nothing."

"Nothing humans can't do anything about doesn't exist in this world."

Jang Ilso spoke with a grumbling tone.

"Kangho obliterated the Demonic Sects a hundred years ago. So now? It sounds like a ridiculous joke."

"...A joke, you say?"

In response to the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold's question, Jang Ilso's eyes showed a moment of irritation.

He still thought it was nonsense, but he felt even more uncomfortable because he couldn't ignore it. If the message had come from the Black Dragon King or the Thousand-Faced Gentleman, he might have just ignored the nonsense and shrugged it off.

But it wasn't the case with the Great Master. The Great Master he knew would keep his composure even when his head was being severed.

"...I didn't even understand it myself. Well... to be honest, I was just terrified."

"So...?"

Jang Ilso opened his mouth with a more serious tone.

"Are you saying that you are so strong that not even you can deal with it? This creator known as the bishop?"

The Great Master hesitated to respond. It was clear that he needed to organize his thoughts.

"...It's a bit different."

"Different?"

"He was certainly strong. It was unbelievable. He single-handedly faced me and over a hundred elites, and I couldn't even hurt him once."

The sight of it made the Great Master shudder.

"But... yes. I think it's definitely strange now that I think about it."

"Don't just mumble to yourself, try to explain properly. Unless you've gone insane, that is."

When Jang Ilso urged him, the hesitant Great Master spoke with a slightly cracked voice.

"...I didn't unleash my full strength."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer flashed in Jang Ilso's eyes.

"More details, please."

"There was nothing wrong with my body. I certainly felt the pressure from his aura, but it's undeniable. But that alone doesn't explain it. I did my best, yet my sword didn't feel like my sword. It was like... yes, it was as if I was swinging a sword deep underwater."

Jang Ilso slowly licked his lips.

"...Magyo..."

The traditions of the Demonic Sects have always been deceptive.

The most absurd thing was is that they always managed to push the Central Plains even though their numbers were never a majority.

No matter the fanatical beasts they may be, these people, born from the same womb, wouldn't make much of a difference no matter what they learned. However, as Jang Ilso listened to the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold's words, he felt that some of the mystery behind their odd behavior was beginning to unravel.

The Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold added.

"It felt like I hit a wall. A wall that couldn't be crossed with anything."

Jang Ilso remained deep in thought with a stern face.

Looking back, the Evil Sect had no reputation in battles against the Demonic Sects. Even in the previous war with the Demonic Sects, the Evil Sect was simply overwhelmed by the might of the Demonic Sects.

Is it natural for the Evil Sect to submit to the stronger side?

That's a laughable idea.

Submission implies that it has meaning when one is guaranteed survival in return. How can it be meaningful to submit to the Demonic Sect, which has no way of sparing those who surrender?

Most likely, the leaders of the Evil Sect at the time must have confronted the Demonic Sects. But strangely, when facing the Demonic Sects, they were completely ineffective, unlike previous encounters.

Then the interpretation becomes quite clear.

"It's a matter of compatibility."

"...Perhaps."

Jang Ilso squeezed his temple in thought.

As the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold said, the Demonic Sect's martial arts might work as a form of compatibility when it comes to the Evil Sect.

'No, it's not just us.'

If that were the case, the demonic beasts of the Demonic Cult would not have been able to sweep away the entire Central Plains. There must have had something that could devour most of the Central Plain's martial arts.

'But how?'

Was that realistically possible?

Who on earth could create something like that? If that was possible, it must be considered that the ability has already surpassed that of humans.

"...No."

The pressure of Jang Ilso's finger on the temple persisted continuously.

'No, that's not it.'

Human beings like Jang Ilso tend to try to understand the cause and principle of a situation when they face it. That's because they are uncomfortable when facing something that they can't understand.

But sometimes, focusing on the phenomenon itself is more helpful than understanding it. Denying something you can't interpret may eventually lead to your own downfall.

'Interpret it as it is.'

Even if it doesn't make sense or if it's something beyond his comprehension, in this situation, acknowledgment is better than denial.

"How many of them are there?"

"I didn't get an accurate count."

Jang Ilso frowned.

"But it's certain they are not many. Besides the one I saw, there didn't seem to be any other bishops."

"...Either scouts or deserters. Or maybe that's all that's left of the Demonic Sect."

The Great Master nodded as if agreeing.

"Then the solution is simple. We just have to find a way to kill that bishop."

"Pushing forward won't work. His martial arts seem to specialize in mass slaughter."

"To put it the other way around, it means you lost your arm and ran away from such a person. You're boldly voicing such claims, seemingly without any shame, Great Master."

"You'll understand."

Jang Ilso's eyes dimmed slightly.

However, the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold seemed to stare into the void with a vacant expression, muttering to himself as if he couldn't see their reaction.

"If you were to face that monster directly... It would be nothing but a luxury to feel shame... You'll understand. Definitely..."

"Tsk."

Jang Ilso clicked his tongue in annoyance, then leaned back in his chair.

'Of all places, it had to be Hangzhou.'

In war, the most crucial element is the military fund, and the location chosen by the Demonic Sect happened to be the wealthiest land in Gangnam. If that place were to be reduced to ashes, it would undeniably cause significant financial damage to the Evil Tyrant Alliance.

No matter what, the situation needed to be resolved quickly, even if it meant using extreme measures.

With his eyes closed, he calmly assessed the situation.

'The solution is...'

How much time had passed?

When Jang Ilso opened his eyes again, they shone with a cold light.

"...Taoism (仙道)."

"..."

"Taoists."

Finally, as if he had found the solution, Jang Ilso smirked crookedly.

"If those guys really possess an inexplicable power that defies common sense, the only way to break through it would be Taoism or Buddhism. I never thought I'd end up believing in such empty talk as the 'Power of Exorcism,' but..."

He looked up at the ceiling as if in frustration.

"However, instead of covering up the situation, it might be better for me to become a foolish fanatic, just like them."

With a nod, Jang Ilso gazed at the ceiling before slowly getting to his feet.

The Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold watched him with a questioning look.

"What should we do?"

"I need a sword."

Jang Ilso's eyes gleamed with cold determination.

"The situation is not easy to resolve. It's not as simple as confronting a couple of crippled arms. If I take action and fail, it would be the worst-case scenario. Everything would crumble. I must not fail."

"..."

"Then, I need to obtain a proper sword, a blade that can definitely cut that monster's throat."

The Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold was a quick thinker. Even without detailed explanations, he clearly understood who Jang Ilso was referring to as 'a sword.'

"Do you think they will agree to it?"

"Hmph. You're making foolish remarks, Great Master. I don't want them to agree. I want to make them agree."

Great anticipation and concern mingled in Jang Ilso's gleaming, oily eyes.

"The world is truly interesting. I never expected that I would be extending a hand to them. Hahahahaha!"

His loud laughter reverberated throughout the assembly, and without any hesitation, he strode away, creating a clatter of ornaments.

For a while, he continued to laugh boisterously as he walked away, and the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold simply watched his back with eyes filled with both worry and hope.