Return of the Mount Hua

You can just leave it be. (1)

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“I humbly great you, Lord Ryeonju!”

The title echoed as Ho Gamyeong lowered his head deeply towards Jang Ilso.

“You’re quite persistent,”

Jang Ilso waved his hand dismissively, as if it wasn’t such a big deal.

Indeed, it was of no consequence.

Ever since the moment the Black Dragon King had fallen into the hands of Hwasan Geomhyeop, the outcome had already been determined. No, more precisely, it might have been decided from the moment Namgung Clan set foot on Maehwado.

All Jang Ilso had done was guide this entire course to suit his desires. So, winning the loyalty of the Black Dragon King was simply the natural result.

“Now, Surochae will undoubtedly come under Lord Ryeongu’s command.”

“It took quite a while.”

Jang Ilso tilted his head as if it was a trivial matter.

It had taken three years to acquire Surochae, which could be considered the weakest faction among the Four Great Evil Clans. It had been a tedious task.

Ho Gamyeong looked at Jang Ilso with utmost respect.

Three years.

It might seem like a long time. But when you considered the time it took to swallow Surochae whole, who would dare to belittle those three years?

This was an achievement that couldn’t be adequately described as great.

“What about Surochae?”

“They are obedient without complaint. Even if there were complaints, in the current situation, they wouldn’t voice them openly.”

“Hmm.”

Jang Ilso gazed at the riverbank. Boats illuminated by fire were crisscrossing the Yangtze River.

“Round up a few with positions… what about…?”

“Yes?”

“Capture a few individuals with positions and make an example of them. Somewhere visible to everyone.”

Ho Gamyung hesitated for a moment before responding, “Right now, there aren’t any individuals who have committed… “

“Tsk, tsk. Gamyeong-ah, why are you always so honest?”

“…”

“Whether there are individuals who have committed wrongdoing or not isn’t important. What matters is that we need individuals who have. Understand?”

“Yes, Lord Ryeonju.”

“Dealing with problems after they arise is foolish. Truly clever individuals prevent problems from occurring in the first place. That’s how people are. When someone else does something, they tend to feel the urge to try it themselves at least once. Once that spirit of rebellion is etched in, it may be suppressed, but it doesn’t disappear.”

“…”

“The best approach is…”

Jang Ilso slowly traced his lower lip with his fingertip.

“It’s about preventing even the spirit of rebellion in the first place. To do that, you need to instill just the right amount of fear. Understand?”

“Yes, Lord Ryeonju. I will capture individuals who can serve as examples and hang them from the masts.”

However, Jang Ilso sighed deeply once again.

“Gamyeong-ah…”

“Yes?”

Ho Gameoung looked puzzled. Jang Ilso shook his head slightly.

“When did I say to kill them? I’m not that wicked.”

“So…”

“Let them live,” Jang Ilso said with a casual tone.

“Tie them up to the masts. It would be better if they shed their shells. Let them suffer for several days without dying. Make sure everyone can see their agony, whether they live or die.”

Ho Gamyeong’s eyes widened slightly.

“Occasionally, carve out chunks of their flesh, sprinkle salt, and let the bugs fester. They should feel in their hearts that they would rather die like that than endure such a death. Rather than dying like that, it’s better to stab themselves in the neck or sink into the riverbed to become fish food.”

Jang Ilso’s calm and serene voice, as if discussing everyday matters, felt strangely, and yet, several times more gruesome than his menacing tone.

“There are various ways to gain loyalty. But for now, we need nothing but fear. Even for wretches like the Black Dragon King, who submit without a word, showing them a stronger force and a more cruel hand is enough.”

“…I will do as you say.”

In response to the obedient answer, Jang Ilso smiled quietly.

“Good, then that’s settled.”

Ho Gamyeong swallowed dryly.

In truth, Jang Ilso’s methods weren’t particularly cruel. Killing enemies brutally wasn’t something unusual in the martial world.

The problem was that these were now the subordinates Jang Ilso had to rule.

“Lord Ryeonju, may I ask you something?”

“Hmm?”

“…What are your plans for the Black Dragon King?”

“Why the Black Dragon King?”

“Do you intend to spare him?”

“Hmm.”

Jang Ilso looked at Ho Gamyeong as if finding this interesting.

“What are your thoughts?”

“I believe it would be better to kill him. Someone like the Black Dragon King will never truly be loyal. He will reveal his true nature and turn against you someday.”

“An untamed wolf?”

“I’m not sure if ‘wolf’ is the right word for that bear-like individual, but in any case, he will never be tamed.”

“Gamyeong-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know how to tame an untameable wolf?”

“…I’m not sure.”

“You simply need to pull out its teeth.”

Jang Ilso said with a menacing tone,

“Pull out its teeth, its claws, and if it still doesn’t obey, cut off its legs. Then, even if it doesn’t show complete loyalty, at least it won’t bite or scratch me, right? It would be no different from a dog.”

“But what’s the point of reducing the Black Dragon King to such a state?”

“Tsk, tsk, Gamyeong-ah.”

“Yes, Lord Ryeonju.”

“The important thing is the fact that I have the untamable wolf under control.”

“…I see what you mean.”

“It doesn’t matter if the wolf has sharp fangs or deadly claws. What matters is that a wolf, who wouldn’t listen to anyone, is now trapped in our cage with a leash around its neck.”

“I understand now.”

“Killing the Black Dragon King and taking control of Surochae might be something anyone can do. But leaving Surochae untouched beneath our feet is different. That’s not something just anyone can do.”

Jang Ilso’s gaze shifted to the side, not towards the river but the opposite bank, the vast southern lands.

“While others might not understand, at least you two will grasp the significance. For now, that’s enough.”

Jang Ilso smiled leisurely.

Obtaining Surochae means that Jang Ilso has, in essence, gained control over at half of the forces within Sapaeryeon. Originally, even though Jang Ilso was recognized as the leader of Sapaeryeon, facing the combined forces of the remaining three factions would have been a daunting task. But from this moment on, Jang Ilso possesses the power to contend with all of Sapaeryeon.

“It’s a shame I couldn’t repay what I owe, but I still made quite a profit.”

Jang Ilso muttered to himself and then laughed softly. Watching this, Ho Gamyeong cautiously spoke up.

“My Lord.”

“Hmm?”

“Does this mean…?”

“You can just leave it be.”

“…Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.”

Jang Ilso reached out, grabbed a bottle of liquor, and took a sip, gazing intently across the river.

“Some things in the world require time. Let’s patiently wait for the Surochae to accept me. The existence of an enemy on the other side will make it possible.”

“…What if they withdraw before us?”

“It can’t happen that way.”

Jang Ilso waved his hand dismissively.

“Shaolin is facing the worst situation right now. If they withdraw like that, there’s no stopping their downfall. Listen carefully, Ho Gamyeong. The world doesn’t run on strength alone. No matter how strong Shaolin is, once you lose your reputation, it won’t come back.”

“But being here doesn’t necessarily give us an advantage, does it?”

“In return, it brings bad luck.”

“…Bad luck?”

Jang Ilso smiled mysteriously as he looked at Ho Gamyeong.

“The reason I made a three-year pact during the previous Yangtze River incident, what do you think it was for?”

“Because you needed time to govern the internal affairs of Sapaeryeon.”

“Yes, that’s part of it. But even more important was to cut off their lifeline.”

“Lifeline?”

“No matter how much they may dislike each other, they have to unite when war breaks out. For example, even those who use every dirty trick to undermine each other in the palace would come together if an external enemy attacked, wouldn’t they?”

“That’s true.”

“The seeds of all sorts of disturbances were sown, and if we had acted as if we were immediately invading Gangbuk, what would they have done?”

“They would have prepared to face Sapaeryeon first.”

Jang Ilso nodded approvingly.

“That’s right. So, it’s not meaningless. That’s why I gave them enough time to sink their teeth into each other.”

“…I see.”

“Same goes for this time. If they withdraw now, all the blame will fall on Shaolin . The old man among them doesn’t want that. That’s why they’re shouting about it over there.”

Jang Ilso exaggeratedly spread his arms.

“War will soon break out! When this treaty ends, blood will be shed and continue to flow! So, now is not the time to shift responsibility to someone else!”

“Indeed…”

“He’s a cunning old man.”

Jang Ilso lowered his head.

“But… that slyness can also help us. It’s not a bad thing if fortune smiles upon us. I’ll get the same benefits Shaolin gets. In the meantime, I’ll firmly secure Surochae, and I can use any dissatisfaction that arises from the back.”

Ho Gamyeong stared across the river with a newfound curiosity.

It’s strange.

As far as he knew, since Hwasan withdrew from Maehwado, Jang Ilso and Shaolin hadn’t communicated their intentions to each other.

Despite this, they seemed to be working as if they had orchestrated it themselves, benefiting each side. Jang Ilso placed Surochae in a forward position, bolstering Shaolin’s arguments, while Shaolin stayed by the riverside, buying Jang Ilso the time needed to take control of Surochae.

‘Perhaps this is a true alliance,’

Ho Gamyung pondered. No need for conversation or written agreements – they simply moved silently in directions that benefited them both.

Considering the meaning of an alliance, could there be a situation more fitting than this?

“In the end, if we just buy time, everything will flow as you wish,”

Ho Gamyung said.

“…I hope so,”

Jang Ilso replied with a somewhat ambiguous expression, stroking his chin lightly.

“It was risky. Very close. I could have easily lost my life.”

While Jang Ilso didn’t specify the exact danger, it was clear he was referring to a certain situation.

“If there’s a variable, it’s Hwasan. I have no idea what they might do. Especially…”

Jang Ilso suddenly stopped talking.

One variable they could deal with was Chung Myung. They could imagine the worst-case scenarios and prepare for them. Chung Myung would stick to that path diligently.

But…

‘Hyun Jong.’

No one had any idea where that old man might be headed. It was impossible to comprehend his thought process. Pursuing one’s self-interest or seeking negotiations was understandable. But demanding the sacrifice of one’s own sect over the law was beyond comprehension. Where else could you find such a crazy individual?

“I don’t know. If the day comes when I lose my head… it might be because of those damn bastards.”

“It will never come to that.”

“Yeah, I hope not.”

A sinister glint passed through Jang Ilso’s eyes as he gazed across the river.

‘Not yet… No, not yet.’

But someday, that day would come. The day when entire Hwasan would be saturated with blood at his hands.

Jang Ilso’s tongue slowly grazed his red lips, as if savoring the taste of blood.

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