What kind of wealth and fame would I enjoy? (5)
“Um, then first…”
Hyun Jong gathered everyone’s attention. It was time to address practical issues.
“Baek Cheon.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“What do you think about how Shaolin will move forward in the future?”
“…”
For a moment, Baek Cheon was tongue-tied as he looked at Hyun Jong. He had never been directly asked such a question by Sect Leader before, especially in a gathering like this. However, Baek Cheon quickly regained his composure.
“As Chung Myung mentioned earlier, it seems that Shaolin won’t move from Yangtze River for a while. To move, we would need Surochae to withdraw first, but Surochae is still maintaining its formation.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Hyun Jong nodded satisfactorily. Then Jo Geol quickly chimed in.
“That’s right! The Great Baldy of Shaolin places great importance on his reputation, doesn’t he?”
“…That’s a valid point.”
Now, even if Jo Geol referred to the Abbot as the Great Baldy in front of everyone, no one pointed out the fact.
“So, the key question is when Surochae will move.”
Hyun Jong pondered deeply before speaking.
“Didn’t Black Dragon King get injured? Even for treatment, he won’t be able to hold out there for much longer, right?”
“Yes, I think so too.”
“So do I.”
“Then this standoff won’t last much longer.”
As everyone’s thoughts converged, Chung Myung suddenly spoke up.
“What if it doesn’t?”
“Huh?”
Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung with a puzzled expression.
“Do you have a different opinion?”
“Yes, Sect Leader. While it might seem like a valid point that Surochae should withdraw as soon as possible since Black Dragon King is injured, my perspective is a bit different.”
Baek Cheon asked, not quite understanding.
“Why is that? From Surochae’s perspective, Black Dragon King needs to recover as soon as possible. In a fierce martial world like Sapa, the leader’s strength and position are paramount.”
“It’s the opposite.”
“Huh?”
“If Black Dragon King still firmly controls Surochae, then it would be as Saksuk says. However, there’s someone else there.”
Baek Cheon immediately grasped who the ‘someone else’ was and muttered almost involuntarily.
“Jang ilso…”
“Exactly.”
Chung Myung nodded.
“Black Dragon King has lost control over Surochae. Surochae, at the end of the day, is a faction under Sapaeryeon’s influence, and there’s Sapaeryeon’s Ryeonju in this place. With Black Dragon King injured, even if Jang Ilso temporarily takes command of it, it won’t be a problem.”
“…That makes sense.”
“And…”
Chung Myung smiled with a mocking grin.
“That guy can’t just stand by in this situation. He probably came up with some excuse to make Black Dragon King step back temporarily. He would do anything to tear Surochae’s solidly.”
Everyone couldn’t help but agree with his words. Jang Ilso, who was nothing short of a manifestation of greed, wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.
“Would Black Dragon King just stay quiet?”
“Black Dragon King?”
“Yeah. Considering his personality, he probably won’t stay quiet, right? It’s his own power that Jang Ilso is trying to swallow whole.”
“….”
At that moment, Chung Myung cast a pitiful look at Baek Cheon, as if he felt genuinely sorry for him. Baek Cheon startled and protested.
“What? Why!”
“Ah… how can I call this guy Saksuk? Oh dear, Dong Ryong.”
“H-Hey, stop that, you bastard!”
Chung Myung shook his head.
“Well, you’ll find out as you go.”
He turned to everyone and continued.
“In any case, the standoff might last for a while, maybe even longer than we think.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s too long of a story to explain.”
Choosing his words carefully, Chung Myung chuckled.
“You see, the thoughts of these sneaky bastards are usually pretty similar.”
Even after Chung Myung’s explanation, Ogeom still had a look of incomprehension in their eyes. Chung Myung just smiled faintly.
***
The once fierce and commanding presence had faded away, replaced by tired eyes and a pallid complexion. The visage that had once seemed ready to conquer the world was now unrecognizable, and the darkened countenance only elicited a sense of pity.
Black Dragon King sat there, staring blankly ahead. More precisely, he was looking at Jang Ilso, who was sitting comfortably with his legs crossed on a large chair.
Jang Ilso, who had been wearing a sardonic smile, slowly parted his lips.
“Are you feeling well?”
This man had always been threatening. Like a venomous snake carrying poison.
So, the reason Black Dragon King felt this man was especially dangerous now wasn’t just because he had lost an arm.
“Thanks for your concern…”
Black Dragon King paused for a moment and lowered his head.
He didn’t want to be seen in this state – a face marred by anger, hatred, and fear.
“…I’m recovering quickly.”
“Good to hear.”
Sitting comfortably in his chair, Jang Ilso, with a relaxed expression, looked down at Black Dragon King.
Just a few days ago, he had stood on equal ground with Jang Ilso. There might have been a difference in rank between the leader of the Sapaeryeon and the leaders of other core factions, but it wasn’t an entirely one-sided relationship where Black Dragon King had to bow to Jang Ilso.
Because the position of Ryeonju that Jang Ilso occupied wasn’t gained through sheer force or suppression.
Although Jang Ilso had gradually been taking control, there had still been a chance for Black Dragon King to strike back. That was before the situation had reached this point.
“Recovering, huh…”
Jang Ilso muttered to himself as if pondering Black Dragon King’s words.
“Yes, indeed. You need to recover quickly. That way, you can seek revenge and regain your former glory, don’t you think?”
“…”
“First, you should focus on recovery. It will take time to get used to using your left hand for handling Guandao, after all.”
He thought he heard laughter. There was certainly no hint of laughter in Jang Ilso’s voice, but it seemed like the Black Dragon King kept hearing the hallucination of Jang Ilso laughing in his ear.
No, he might actually be laughing. It just didn’t show in his voice or on his face. Right now, Jang Ilso was probably secretly bursting with joy at his own cleverness.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle the small stuff. For now, step back and focus on regaining your power.”
A dry chuckle.
The Black Dragon King gnashed his teeth.
Step back? He hadn’t even been able to face Surochae once since escaping from Hwasan. Stepping back required at least some discussion and instructions. But now, the Black Dragon King was thoroughly isolated from Surochae.
Given the situation, one thought had not left the Black Dragon King’s mind throughout.
Could all of this really be a coincidence?
Jang Ilso came to his aid just in time, left Namgung clan alone and let Hwasan and Tangga advance to Maehwa Island, and all of the other events where he had refrained from intervening until the Black Dragon King’s life was at stake…
Could it all really be a coincidence?
At first, he dismissed it as an excessive thought. No matter how capable Jang Ilso was, he couldn’t have predicted that the Black Dragon King would be defeated by Hwasan Geomhyeop. Everything had simply flowed in Jang Ilso’s favor by luck, and he had just seized the opportunities given to him.
Yes, he believed that.
Until he saw Jang Ilso’s eyes.
Like a venomous snake with its prey right in front of it, those eyes staring at him made the Black Dragon King realize everything.
“Is there a problem?”
Jang Ilso’s voice was casual. The Black Dragon King managed to swallow his anger. Unexpressed anger isn’t anger; it’s just the frustration of the powerless.
“No, there isn’t, My Lord.”
“Hmm.” Jang Ilso made a soft snort.
“My Lord…” He mumbled for a moment.
Then Jang Ilso slowly rose to his feet.
At the same time, the accessories on his body produced a sharp sound as they clinked together continuously.
To anyone familiar with Jang Ilso, it was a sound that couldn’t be more ordinary. But to the current Black Dragon King, it felt even more eerie than the wailing of a ghost in the middle of the night.
Clank. Clank. Clank.
Jang Ilso slowly approached the Black Dragon King.
The Black Dragon King’s shoulders began to tremble.
It wasn’t that he feared death. If it were simply a matter of facing death, he would have accepted it with dignity.
However, Jang Ilso wasn’t satisfied with just that. He intended to use even his death thoroughly to take everything away. Surochae, his honor, everything he had built would be engulfed by the crimson flames known as Jang Ilso, leaving nothing behind.
Clink. Clink.
Finally, he stopped just one step in front of the Black Dragon King. He looked at the Black Dragon King and smiled, a smile as soft as could be.
“Why are you trembling?”
“…”
“Do you think I’m going to… kill you?”
The languid voice flowed from his red lips.
The Black Dragon King closed his eyes. He finally understood now why others feared Jang Ilso so much.
Normally, a tiger doesn’t fear a snake. The venom is unpleasant, but there’s no gain in running away from it. That’s why tigers and snakes can coexist.
But… what if that snake was so enormous that it could swallow a tiger whole? What if, instead of a snake, a gigantic venomous python was spreading its gaping maw right before your eyes?
In that case, it would be strange for the tiger not to fear the snake anymore.
“Don’t worry. I won’t do that.”
Jang Ilso said with a sly smile.
“I consider myself a much gentler person than what others think… yet people fear me. Do you know why?”
His tone had changed completely by now, on the surface it seemed like he was treating his subordinates perfectly. However, the Black Dragon King couldn’t even utter a single protest.
“It’s because of the enmity in their hearts.”
“…”
“Dogs don’t fear their owners. They feel secure and obedient here. They might fear the whip used for discipline, but what they offer to their owner is nothing but loyalty. Dogs fear their enemies. Do you understand?”
“Ryeonju…”
“Then I’ll ask.”
A sharp smile played at the corners of Jang Ilso’s mouth.
“In your heart…”
Rustle.
The rings concealed within his sleeves made a subtle sound.
It was by no means loud, but to the Black Dragon King, it sounded more immense than thunder.
“What is inside yours right now?”
The Black Dragon King opened his eyes and met Jang Ilso’s gaze.
Despite his radiant appearance, those two eyes were endlessly somber. When the Black Dragon King looked into them, something inside him shattered.
“I… I…”
“Yes, go on and answer.”
“I, I…”
The Black Dragon King’s body slowly bent downward.
Kwoong!
Soon, his knees touched the ground.
With a face overwhelmed by fear and terror, the Black Dragon King trembled and struggled to lower his head.
“All I have… is loyalty.”
Jang Ilso’s gaze was cold as he looked down at the kneeling Black Dragon King. After a moment of silence, Jang Ilso slowly reached out his hand.
His white hand adorned with iridescent rings gently touched the Black Dragon King’s head. In an instant, the Black Dragon King’s entire body shivered briefly and convulsed.
“Hmm.”
A short snort escaped from Jang Ilso’s lips.
“Yes.”
The white hand continued to gently stroke the Black Dragon King’s head.
“Such a good boy.”
The moon in the sky slowly hid behind the clouds, concealing its appearance. The thick darkness settled silently over the Yangtze River.
________
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Return of the Mount Hua 
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