Return of the Mount Hua

Anyone got anything else to say? (2)

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Hyeok Sawol swallowed dryly.

‘How did things end up like……’

Familiar faces could be seen. The first thing that stood out was that the people gathered here were all rather advanced in years.

Since this was a gathering of the Sect Leaders of each sect, it was only natural that they would be older, but one could tell at a glance that those here belonged to a generation quite senior even among them. Perhaps for that reason, they all seemed to be at least somewhat acquainted with one another.

In other words, it meant that the old gingers [glossary] Gangho spoke of, the well-connected figures from every region, had gathered here.

Therefore, there should have been no shortage of things to discuss, yet for some reason, those gathered merely watched one another’s reactions and did not easily open their mouths.

Then, the old man seated in the center finally spoke.

“No sound will leak out.”

“……Pardon?”

“I have set an energy barrier around us, so please do not worry and speak freely.”

The Sect Leaders looked at the old man in surprise.

The room in which they were gathered was fairly large. And yet he was saying he had surrounded the entire room with his energy alone? Just how immense must one’s internal energy be for such a thing to be possible?

And yet not a single Sect Leader voiced any doubt at the astonishing claim. There was only one reason.

“Yes. If it is you, Shin Gun [Divine Lord], then such a thing would certainly be possible.”

“We will trust you and speak freely.”

Because everyone acknowledged that the old man before them, Yeo Mugwang [여무광(呂無曠)], the Illusory Phantom Divine Lord [환영신군(幻影神君) – Hwan-Yeong Shin Gun], possessed more than enough ability to do so.

“This may be discourteous of me to say, but I never imagined that… you would still be alive, Shin Gun.”

“Indeed. Has it not already been well over twenty years since Shin Gun went into seclusion?”

Receiving the gazes of everyone present, Shin Gun nodded slowly.

“So it has.”

For someone who had summoned everyone here, it was an excessively casual response. Yet the weight carried by the title Illusory Phantom Divine Lord was such that even a manner that might otherwise have seemed careless was transformed into gravitas.

Hyeok Sawol stared at the Illusory Phantom Divine Lord with a hardened expression.

‘The greatest under heaven.’

He had once been counted as one of the strongest people in Gangho. A mighty expert whom everyone under heaven could not push outside of the top three, at the very least. That was the Illusory Phantom Divine Lord.

‘That’s right. More than twenty years ago, no less.’

That much time had passed. Then just what level had Shin Gun’s martial prowess reached now? Would he not, at the very least, have become stronger than he had been then?

For the passage of years in Gangho might steal away one’s sharpness, but it was bound to deepen one’s internal strength.

‘How does he compare to the present Hwasan Geomhyeop?’

The answer did not come easily.

Yet while his mind told him such a comparison could not be made so simply, his heart was saying otherwise. No matter what, compared to a young swordsman who had only just risen to the seat of greatest under heaven, someone who had been spoken of as the greatest under heaven twenty years ago would be a bit more…

“Thank you all for gathering here.”

As if cutting off Hyeok Sawol’s thoughts, the Hundred-Faced Fox Cho Geosan opened his mouth with a meaningful smile.

“I believe that despite the sudden invitation, everyone has gathered here because we all share the same sentiment. Namely, that we are dissatisfied with the current situation.”

Flustered by words that barged straight in without any preamble, the Sect Leaders reflexively looked around. Even though they already knew the sound had been blocked, they could not hide their unease that someone might be listening.

Was this not a conversation far too dangerous to be having in a place that was practically in the heart of Hwasan Sect, of all places?

“No, wait. We are…”

Just as several Sect Leaders tried to somehow smooth over the situation, the Hundred-Faced Fox smiled again and waved his hand with an exaggerated ease.

“Ah, do not misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand…?”

“I have absolutely no intention of obstructing Hwasan. And naturally, I trust that those gathered here did not come harboring such wicked thoughts either. Is that not so?”

“Ahem.”

The Hundred-Faced Fox was a master at manipulating the atmosphere at will. Those who had been drawn into his rhythm looked uncomfortable as they turned their attention to Cho Geosan.

“Then, the reason we have gathered here is…”

“Well.”

The Hundred-Faced Fox scratched the bridge of his nose as though he was troubled.

“If I had to put it into words, rather… yes, I suppose it would be closer to an attempt to help Hwasan.”

“Did you just say you intend to help Hwasan?”

“That is correct.”

Cho Geosan continued in a slow, yet confident voice.

“How could governing all under heaven be easy? No matter how distinguished Hwasan’s achievements were in the last war, it would be too much for them to bear alone.”

“But Hwasan is not alone, is it? They too have…”

“Of course. There are sects that stand together with Hwasan. But even with their help, it will still be difficult. Was not the discussion of affairs of all under heaven something that even Shaolin, backed by Gupailbang, struggled with?”

“Hmm. Now that you put it that way…”

The Sect Leaders quickly exchanged glances.

“It was the same in the past. When the prestige of Gupailbang was not so overwhelming, did not small sects like ours all join forces to help them?”

The Sect Leaders each nodded.

In truth, contrary to those words, back then even small sects did not readily bow their heads to Shaolin or Gupailbang. Yet at some point, as if following the flow of water, the balance of power had shifted, and the world had become like it was before the war.

“The situation has changed, so we must change as well. Rather than simply following, it would be more proper to support Hwasan by raising our voices proudly, as we did in the past.”

At that moment, a somewhat hoarse voice rang out bluntly.

“Do you think this will go as you intend?”

Where everyone’s gazes gathered was Hyeok Sawol, bearing no expression on his face.

“It is obvious why Hwasan is holding this alliance meeting. I am asking whether they would simply sit idly and watch our actions.”

Hyeok Sawol was just about to add another word.

“If they do not sit by and watch… then we must make them.”

“Pardon?”

Hyeok Sawol flinched and turned to look at the Hundred-Faced Fox. Was that not far too dangerous a remark?

However, Cho Geosan merely smiled with perfect composure.

“There is no need to think of it as something so complicated. Difficult matters are often best resolved simply. There are two reasons Hwasan is currently able to hold this alliance meeting. One is the great merit they earned during the last war. And the other is…”

The Hundred-Faced Fox deliberately paused, and one impatient Sect Leader blurted out the answer first.

“That the strongest under heaven is in Hwasan.”

“Yes. Precisely so.”

The Hundred-Faced Fox smiled faintly.

“But what if, perhaps… that strongest under heaven ceased to be one? Would Hwasan still have the power to stop us then?”

Anyone incapable of understanding what the Hundred-Faced Fox meant after hearing that would never have been invited here in the first place. Naturally, the gazes of all the Sect Leaders turned towards the Illusory Phantom Divine Lord.

“Surely…”

“Do you intend to step forward yourself, Shin Gun?”

A strange sense of anticipation filled the Sect Leaders’ voices. Shin Gun answered to that expectation as though it were only natural.

“If I must.”

Hyeok Sawol let out a faint groan.

“Hmm… His opponent is Hwasan Geomhyeop. The greatest sword under heaven of this age, who even took Paegun’s head.”

“The greatest under heaven, hm.”

Shin Gun let out a faint smile.

“I have never clung to such empty fame, but… my head is still attached to my neck. Is not that seat far too heavy for a mere youth to bear?”

“Oh…..”

The Sect Leaders widened their eyes and exclaimed in admiration. Shin Gun smiled and declared.

“I intend to show it before those gathered here. Just who… is worthy of being called the greatest under heaven in the present Gangho.”

The Sect Leaders murmured as if entranced.

“If only that happens…”

However, Hyeok Sawol was still shaking his head.

“If that is all you have prepared, then I shall take my leave.”

“Hm? Sect Leader Hyeok, what do you mean by that…”

“We are people responsible for our own sects.”

At Hyeok Sawol’s firm voice, everyone shut their mouths. Because they all understood perfectly well just how much weight those words carried.

“As you said, if Shin Gun can defeat Hwasan Geomhyeop, you may be able to achieve your goals. But what if, by some chance, it does not happen? What will become of those who sided with you then?”

Hyeok Sawol shook his head as if he did not even want to think about it.

“I am not young enough to stake everything on a gamble. I will withdraw.”

Having finished speaking, Hyeok Sawol tried to rise.

“I will not stop you, however.”

The Illusory Phantom Divine Lord looked at Hyeok Sawol and smiled gently.

“Take this with you.”

“What…”

Seeing what he held out, Hyeok Sawol’s eyes flew wide open.

“That is…!”

It was the treasured sword Hyeok Sawol had been wearing at his waist. There was no possibility of mistake. Hyeok Sawol’s hand trembled faintly.

‘When on earth…? No… how on earth?’

He could not believe it.

In this room, of all places – and in the middle of a conversation fraught with danger – how could he possibly have let his guard down? And even if he had, would it make any sense for him not to notice the sword vanishing from his waist?

‘I did not see it. I did not even sense his presence.’

In other words, if the Illusory Phantom Divine Lord had set his mind to it, he would already no longer be of this world.

Of course, Hyeok Sawol could not be called a mighty expert whose name shook all under heaven, but in any case, he had trained in martial arts his entire life. He was not someone who would be taken down this easily by just anyone.

Then the conclusion was obvious.

“….Shin Gun. You have made a great breakthrough.”

Everyone who saw it could not help but be astonished.

“It is a pity.”

Shin Gun shook his head.

“Had my enlightenment come just a few days earlier, I would have been the one to take Paegun’s head. I emerged from Pyegwan [glossary] far too late.”

“Hmm.”

“But though I may have been too late to bring Paegun down, it seems not everything is too late yet. What do you say? Are you still of the same mind?”

A brief flicker of conflict crossed Hyeok Sawol’s face.

But the conclusion had already been decided. Without a word, he sat back down.

“I will hear the plan.”

Seeing this, the Hundred-Faced Fox Cho Geosan smiled in satisfaction.

‘That’s right. In the end, people cannot cast aside their greed.’

No matter how much one pretended to be a sage or a gentleman, desire was bound to burn within one’s chest. The only difference was whether one could hide it until the very end, or whether one could not.

And Cho Geosan’s desire was so clear that there was no need to hide it.

‘Hwasan isn’t the only one qualified to claim an ownerless mountain.’

If only they could use this alliance meeting to spread Shin Gun’s fame far and wide, it would not be impossible to gather, in a short time, a force that surpassed even Cheonumaeng.

And if that happened, the one who would naturally stand at the very top and command them all would be the Hundred-Faced Fox Cho Geosan.

In one sense, it was a plan that might seem utterly absurd, but Cho Geosan had not the slightest doubt that it would come to pass.

‘Such is the way the world has always been.’

Muttering to himself, the Hundred-Faced Fox let a chilling smile spread across his face.

❀ ❀ ❀

Kiiiiii!

“Oh, right. So that’s what happened.”

Kiiiiii. Kiiiiiiiii!

“Yes, yes.”

Chung Myung crouched in front of the weasel, who was busily explaining something while vigorously waving its short front paws, and quietly watched the sight with a smile. And then he thought.

‘I don’t understand a single thing it’s saying.’

How could he possibly understand weasel’s speech? But it did not matter. He had prepared something precisely because he knew this would happen.

“So, what is it saying?”

“There are people gathered together, but no sound can be heard from inside the room.”

The Beast Palace warrior, who could understand the words of spirit beasts to some extent, smoothly translated Baek Ah’s words for him.

“Ah, is that so?”

Chung Myung smiled.

“Good work. Here.”

Kii!

Baek Ah took the jerky and bottle of liquor Chung Myung tossed over, then left the room together with the Beast Palace warrior. Chung Myung stared at that triumphant back and grinned.

If people had gathered, that meant they intended to talk, and if the sound could not be heard…

“What are they hiding so thoroughly? It’s something we all know anyway.”

Muttering to himself, Chung Myung smiled broadly. Still, it was fortunate. At least now there was no chance of things turning out dull.

“Well, there was never much chance of that happening in the first place.”

Because people could not cast aside their greed.

“That is how the world has always been, after all.”

And at last.

The day of the alliance meeting dawned.

Main Story Chapter 1933 >>>

Special Spinoff Chapter 51 >>>

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Yes, I have changed just Divine Lord to Shin Gun (like Shin Gae for beggars). Because it sounds better. Also Chung Myung smiling, because he now knows for sure he will beat someone up… he is the best.

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