Return of the Mount Hua

Let’s see how you like a taste of your own medicine. (4)

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Just Sects guide their disciples with their righteous principles and values. 

But the Evil Sects despise such insubstantial facades. What can motivate them is purely profit.

Of course, at the moment, Jang Ilso is dominating Sapaeryeon with his overwhelming presence, but there’s undoubtedly a limit. When food runs out, people will rebel even against an emperor, won’t they?

“…So, they plan to cut off our lifeline.”

Ho Gamyeong, having grasped the situation, bit his lip slightly.

When they first considered handing over the island, now known as Maehwado, to Hwasan, they hadn’t anticipated such a situation. At most, they thought it would serve as a wedge to drive a rift between Gupailbang and Cheonumaeng.

That lunatic Hwasan Geomhyeop had expanded the situation endlessly, bringing it to this point.

“But, Ryeonju, isn’t this a bizarre move?”

“Bizarre?”

“Yes. Maehwado only holds significance if the Yangtze River is blocked. If Surochae lift the blockade of the Yangtze River, then it becomes meaningless, doesn’t it? This isn’t much of a strategy.”

“That would be true, if you think about it rationally.”

Jang Ilso chuckled.

“If that pig, the Black Dragon King, ever intended to break the blockade of the Yangtze River, that is.”

“…Pardon?”

Ho Gamyeong tilted his head in confusion.

“Isn’t Surochae struggling financially because of Maehwado’s existence? That’s why they’ve requested several times to attack it.”

“That was when Maehwado belonged to someone else.”

Jang Ilso’s face twisted into a scowl.

“This sword-wielding lunatic and tuberculosis-stricken bastard used that insignificant island to funnel the entire flow of goods along the Yangtze River into one place. Just by transporting goods moderately, they earned so much money that it made the money the Black Dragon King gained through looting seem like pocket change.”

“That is… true.”

Half of it was a game set up by Sapaeryeon, but the fact that they took it on and grew it beyond expectations was certainly a testament to their ability.

“If you were the Black Dragon King, what would you do?”

Jang Ilso’s lips curled up into a grin.

“Would you destroy Maehwado and go back to the way things were? Or would you try to keep the current situation and take over Maehwado for yourself?”

Ho Gamyeong’s eyes wavered.

“Well, of course, taking over Maehwado would be more profitable. But wasn’t the reason Maehwado was preferred because it was run by Hwasan? If the Black Dragon Stronghold were to take control of it, who would trust them and leave their goods there? It would be like leaving a fish in the care of a cat.”

“Who actually operated Maehwado?”

Ho Gamyeong closed his mouth. It was a question he didn’t want to answer, but there was no way he could avoid answering Jang Ilso.

“N… Nokrim.”

“They sure were happy to entrust their goods to bandits.”

Jang Ilso sneered.

“Perhaps for the average commoner, it might be different, but to merchants, a pirate or a bandit isn’t all that different. And what are merchants if not practical? As long as safety is guaranteed, they would trade not just with pirates, but even with ghosts. If the Black Dragon Stronghold merely prohibits looting within Maehwado, soon enough, everyone will start using it again.”

“…”

“Or they could simply set up a suitable proxy to manage the place. There might be suspicions, but are there any other viable options?”

“Do you think the Black Dragon King would think that far ahead?”

“Of course, that pig is lazy and full of greed. But he isn’t stupid.”

“…”

“Especially when it comes to profit. He’s quicker to calculate than anyone else.”

Jang Ilso clicked his tongue.

“If it were only up to that point, we might manage to handle it somehow. The problem is that the Black Dragon King isn’t the only one eyeing Maehwado.”

“…”

Ho Gamyeong immediately understood what Jang Ilso was getting at.

“With such massive profits at stake, there’s no way that Haomun and the Black Ghost Fortress would stay idle.”

“Indeed…”

Ho Gamyeong nodded vigorously.

The more he thought about it, the more painful this situation became.

For the past three years, Jang Ilso had been striving to completely dominate Sapaeryeon. However, the parts he actually managed to control were everything except for Surochae, Haomun, and the Black Ghost Fortress.

The independent power of Sapaeryeon, led by Maninbang, had grown incomparably stronger than before. However, even for Jang Ilso, it was no easy task to dismantle and absorb the firmly established forces of the Five Overlords of the Divine Land [신주오패(神州五覇)* – shinju-o-pae], who had built their strongholds over decades.

Thus, this was like a powder keg within Sapaeryeon, bound to explode sooner or later.

“What if the pigs, who have been lying low, waiting for a small opportunity, start to move?”

“…It could ignite the fuse.”

“Tsk. That’s why I’ve been moving so cautiously until now.”

Jang Ilso shook his head, clearly displeased.

If they had slowly withdrawn from Maehwado, they might have had time to prepare. But Hwasan had abruptly pulled out from the Yangtze River.

Where balance collapses, a new struggle arises to establish a new equilibrium. Hwasan had precisely targeted the fact that this enormous profit would create issues within Sapaeryeon.

“…However,” 

Ho Gamyeong asked with a serious expression, 

“Couldn’t this also be an opportunity, Ryeonju?”

“An opportunity?”

“Yes, an opportunity.”

He nodded heavily and spoke with a clear voice.

“We were going to have to sort them out eventually. It’s also true that going to war while leading those with ulterior motives was a burden. In hindsight, it might be a suitable time.”

“Tsk, tsk. Gamyeong-ah, Gamyeong-ah.”

However, Jang Ilso immediately shook his head.

“You have this strange tendency to narrow your vision whenever the topic involves Hwasan. Just like before.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Why can’t you understand? Do you not realize the implications of seizing Maehwado?”

Jang Ilso extended his finger to point at Maehwado.

“Goods from the mainland cross the river through the island.”

When Jang Ilso’s fingertip slowly moved from Maehwado across the riverbank on the other side, Ho Gamyeong understood what he was getting at.

“…Ah!”

“Occupying Maehwado inevitably means they must also seize the docks on the opposite side of the river. And this place is…”

“…Gangbuk.”

Ho Gamyeong’s face stiffened.

“What is on this land?”

“…A massive city. A city that has grown to an absurd size in just three years.”

“Exactly. Do you really think those pig-like idiots wouldn’t covet that place once they have Maehwado in their grasp?”

Impossible.

If it were just the island, maybe, but those who conquer the docks beyond the island and leave the city connected to those docks untouched? That would be like a martial artist obsessed with power training in third-rate martial arts while the ultimate divine skills are right in front of them.

“Seizing Maehwado means advancing into Gangbuk. Whether we like it or not, problems will arise – problems that I cannot control!”

“…”

“And yet… after creating such a situation – one where neither party can withdraw nor turn away – Cheonumaeng has pulled back entirely. As if saying, ‘Let Gupailbang and Sapaeryeon fight it out amongst themselves.’”

Cold sweat began to trickle down Ho Gamyeong’s forehead.

‘How could such a simple move lead to all this?’

At first, he thought it was just a foolish move, throwing away immense profits with their own hands. But the real fool wasn’t Chung Myung – it was Ho Gamyeong.

The crucial point wasn’t what you give up, but rather, how much you can gain in return for that sacrifice.

By giving up the enormous profits brought by Maehwado, Hwasan had sown the seeds of internal conflict within Sapaeryeon. This internal strife could then ignite a clash between Sapaeryeon and Gupailbang.

The worst part was knowing this full well and still being unable to back out.

They were faced with a situation where they had no choice but to walk into what they knew was a death trap.

‘What on earth…’

Though he understood this insidious move perfectly with his mind, he was equally overwhelmed, as if he had grasped nothing at all. And for a good reason…

How could such a simple move lead to all of this?

A chill ran down his spine.

“Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating. Hahahahaha! For the first time in three years, I feel this kind of thrill! Truly fascinating! Hahahahahahahaha!”

Jang Ilso chuckled to himself.

“People who love to talk think that a brilliant stratagem is the result of genius. They say it’s a remarkable idea born from broad vision and quick thinking that no one else could see.”

“…Isn’t that true?”

“No. Not at all. Not in the slightest.”

Jang Ilso waved his hand dismissively. The ornaments hanging from his wrist clinked against each other.

“If someone were truly that skilled, they wouldn’t find themselves in a situation where they need to concoct such dangerous and elaborate schemes in the first place.”

“…”

“A clever trick is not the tool of the strong. It’s the tool of the weak. It’s what someone who cannot win through conventional means creates after agonizing and thinking, squeezing out every idea.”

A sinister smile spread across Jang Ilso’s lips.

“It’s sticky. This reeks of malicious intent – a stench of desperation, someone intent on throwing filth in my face no matter what. Someone like this would have sought any way to drag me into hell, no matter the circumstances.”

“…”

“Heh heh. What a damned bastard.”

The hand gripping his face tightened.

“Then…”

Ho Gamyeong, with a face gone pale, forced out his words.

Ho Gamyeong, as a strategist, hesitated to say the words that he never wanted to utter.

“…So what do you plan to do?”

Hearing this, Jang Ilso leaned back into his chair, relaxing his body against the backrest. His expression was a mix of lethargy and indifference – like a child who’s had their favorite toy taken away, or someone who’s been burdened with a bothersome task.

“I’ll play along.”

He nodded slowly.

“When you’re stuck in a swamp, struggling to escape in a panic only drags you deeper into the mire. Sometimes, letting yourself get caught is also a strategy.”

Jang Ilso’s expression quickly returned to a calm composure.

“If the news has reached our ears, the Black Dragon King is likely already in motion. Haomun wouldn’t be slower in gathering information than we are, so we should assume they’re on the move as well. The only one left is Mangeum Daebu, I suppose.”

Having seemingly finished his mental calculations, Jang Ilso waved his hand dismissively.

“This is giving me a headache. Everyone, leave.”

“Yes, Ryeonju.”

As the servants carefully withdrew, Ho Gamyeong also stood up. He knew that even his presence was unnecessary to Jang Ilso at this moment.

After he left to avoid disturbing Jang Ilso’s contemplation, Jang Ilso, finally alone, lightly tapped the small table beside him.

“Hwasan Geomhyeop…”

A terrifying killing intent emanated from Jang Ilso’s entire body, his teeth bared.

“As a greeting after three years, this seems a bit excessive… This time, you’ve got me good. I’m almost at a loss for what to give you in return as a proper reply…”

Jang Ilso, who had been rhythmically tapping the small table, suddenly gripped its edge tightly.

“But…”

Slowly, ever so slowly, his face relaxed.

A peculiar expression emerged – one that seemed mocking, almost as if he were teasing, or perhaps feigning concern, or simply toying.

“You don’t know. You still have no idea… just how deep and vicious human malice can be. Hahaha. Hahahahahaha! Ahahahahahahahahahaha!”

The shadows in the room swayed with Jang Ilso’s laughter, as if they were being pulled into an even deeper, endless darkness.

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*신주오패(神州五覇) – 神州 – the old way to refer to China/Central Plains. Divine Land. 

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