Chapter 792: Only He Holds the Value (2)

"You’ve worked hard, Lord Patriarch."

"Hmm."

Jang Ilso lightly nodded, and Hoga Myung responded with a wide smile.

"No, I should call you Lord Alliance Leader now, shouldn’t I?"

"Bah, cut it out with that Alliance Leader nonsense! It's embarrassing."

Jang Ilso waved his hand dismissively, clearly uncomfortable with the grandiose title. However, Hoga Myung’s smile didn’t waver.

"Please, board the carriage."

"Hmm."

Jang Ilso casually climbed into the luxurious carriage, which was drawn by four white horses. The exterior was ornate, and the inside was equally lavish, befitting someone of his status.

As soon as Jang Ilso took his seat, Hoga Myung glanced around briefly before following him inside. Almost immediately, the horses began to move, and the carriage set off.

Hoga Myung, uncharacteristically flushed with excitement, spoke.

"It seems everything went smoothly without major issues."

"We were lucky."

"Luck, you say? I wouldn't call it just luck."

Hoga Myung knew better than anyone how much effort Jang Ilso had put into orchestrating this moment.

All the painstaking work and years of careful planning had finally paid off.

"Now, it's just one more step."

But Jang Ilso waved his hand, adorned with various rings and trinkets, as if dismissing the significance.

"Outwardly, they may seem to bow their heads and act in agreement, but those slippery snakes won’t follow me so easily. Deep down, they’re only thinking about using me and the Maninbang as their shield while they secure their own gains."

Becoming the leader of an alliance is a double-edged sword.

If it’s a position in an already established alliance, it brings power and authority. But when starting a new alliance, the leader often suffers more losses than gains.

During the initial stages of organizing the alliance, when compromises need to be made, no one is willing to bend. Ultimately, the Maninbang will be the one making sacrifices to keep the alliance together.

Those who pretended to vie for the leadership role likely only did so for appearances. If pushed, they would have all stepped back, refusing the responsibility.

This alliance was built like a throne of venomous snakes. The moment any weakness is shown, those poisonous fangs will bite into their leader, tearing them apart.

"But isn’t that exactly what you wanted, Lord Patriarch?"

"Hoga."

"Yes, Lord Patriarch?"

"I’ve told you before, haven’t I? Without risk, there is no reward."

Jang Ilso twisted his lips into a sly smile.

"Those fattened pigs are satisfied with the scraps they’re given. But a hungry wolf is never content with leftovers. Hunting always involves danger."

Jang Ilso ran his finger across his crimson lips, which gleamed with an eerie, almost seductive light.

"If you want something as valuable as your life, you have to be willing to risk your life to get it."

"Wise words, indeed."

Hoga Myung glanced at Jang Ilso with a newfound admiration.

It was truly remarkable.

Since the war with the Demonic Sect, the unorthodox factions had never united to form a single force. And yet, here they were, after a hundred years, with a newly formed alliance. And Jang Ilso and the Maninbang now sat at its head.

Among the leaders of the Five Great Forces, Jang Ilso was the youngest and least experienced. To Hoga Myung, this outcome was natural, but to others, it was an extraordinary feat.

Yet, Jang Ilso showed no signs of joy or satisfaction. It was as if he had simply claimed something that was rightfully his all along.

His eyes were already set on the next target. He wasn’t interested in what he had already gained. Jang Ilso was the kind of person who, even before finishing one hunt, was already seeking out his next prey.

"Thanks to those young fools from Mount Hua, the plan has accelerated by five years… no, perhaps even ten."

"Indeed."

"Do you think they realize that when I went to celebrate the formation of the Heavenly Alliance, I was genuinely congratulating them? Ahahahahaha!"

Jang Ilso burst into laughter, clutching his belly.

It was as if they had slapped his cheek just as he needed a good cry.

The martial world had been stagnant for far too long. No one was lacking anything, and because of that, no one was willing to take risks.

But the Heavenly Alliance—no, Mount Hua—had shattered that balance in an instant.

What would have taken another ten years to accomplish had been done in no time, all thanks to the existence of Mount Hua and the Heavenly Alliance.

"As joyous as this is, it’s also incredibly dangerous. I had to make a move before the opportunity slipped by, but the truth is, we’re not fully prepared yet."

"The greater the risk, the greater the reward, no?"

"Exactly, exactly. You truly understand me, Hoga."

Jang Ilso had swallowed four venomous snakes.

If he couldn’t provide them with enough security, those snakes would tear into his stomach and try to escape. If that happened, he would be left defenseless, with no choice but to give up his life.

But…

‘They’ll soon realize.’

Jang Ilso’s metaphorical stomach acid was already dissolving those snakes from within.

"We'll see who ends up holding the reins."

As Jang Ilso’s crimson lips parted slightly, revealing his gleaming white teeth, a wicked sharpness radiated from him.

"Let’s go."

"Are you planning to go yourself?"

"Hoga."

"Yes, Lord Patriarch."

"People should never forget grudges. But they also shouldn’t forget gratitude."

Hoga Myung looked at Jang Ilso with a hint of confusion.

"If someone bestows a favor upon you, isn’t it only right to repay it?"

"…Indeed, but in that case?"

"I have to repay it, of course. It may be insufficient, but I will repay it."

Jang Ilso chuckled softly.

"Whether they appreciate my gift or not remains to be seen, but what matters is the sincerity behind the gesture."

Seeing Jang Ilso’s smile, Hoga Myung nodded.

Sometimes, the role of a strategist could feel insignificant.

He was confident in his ability to outwit anyone, to manipulate any situation to his advantage. But when it came to Jang Ilso, he could never quite figure out what was going on inside his head.

And yet, Hoga Myung didn’t feel uneasy about this.

Jang Ilso was Jang Ilso. He was someone who defied the norms of human understanding.

Glancing at Jang Ilso, Hoga Myung saw that he had already closed his eyes, lost in deep thought. Wanting to avoid disturbing him, Hoga Myung fell silent.

Jang Ilso pressed his fingers to his temples, deep in contemplation.

‘This is just the beginning.’

He had only taken the first step. The road ahead was still long, and it would be a treacherous path full of thorns. Walking that road would tear at his flesh, with thorns piercing his bones.

But the thought of what he would gain by walking that path made Jang Ilso feel as though he could walk through flames with a smile.

The hungry never stop.

And Jang Ilso's insatiable hunger would never be satisfied.

 

"They’re not fighting?"

"It seems that way."

Chung Myung grabbed Im So-Byeong by the collar and shook him violently.

"What do you mean they’re not fighting? When a bunch of filthy unorthodox scum and those self-righteous orthodox idiots gather, they should be at each other's throats! Why aren’t they fighting? WHY? I set everything up for this!"

"Grggh! L-let go of me!"

"They should be bashing each other’s brains out by now! That’s how I can reap all the rewards!"

Hearing these evil words, Baek Cheon sighed.

"Chung Myung…."

"Hm?"

"Can you not say things like that where people can hear you?"

"Oh."

Baek Cheon couldn’t bring himself to tell Chung Myung that a Taoist shouldn’t be thinking such thoughts.

‘He’s like a rabid dog.’

Filthy unorthodox scum and self-righteous orthodox idiots—did such a thing as an ally even exist in that head of his?

"Grggh! Cough, cough! The thing is… the pirates are running away as soon as they see the orthodox sects!"

"They can’t catch up to them? Did the Shaolin monks forget how to use lightfoot techniques? Where the hell is that damn monk? Every time I look for him, he’s nowhere to be found!"

"Lightfoot techniques are meaningless when they’re sailing away on boats! How could we chase them?"

"Then get on a boat and chase after them!"

"…Then the pirates will just attack and sink the boat. What do you think will happen then?"

"What do you mean ‘what will happen’? It’ll be great! The monks will all drown, and that’ll be a day of celebration!"

"……."

Im So-Byeong stared blankly at Chung Myung for a moment before turning his gaze toward Baek Cheon.

Baek Cheon couldn’t meet his eyes and lowered his head in shame.

‘I’m sorry.’

The leader of a band of bandits was questioning the moral character of an orthodox disciple, and as absurd as it was, Chung Myung made it impossible to argue against him.

"So, in any case… let go of me. Anyway… it seems like they’ve abandoned their strongholds and moved out onto the Yangtze."

"They can’t keep that up for long, can they?"

"They’re likely heading towards the Black Dragon Stronghold to regroup."

"Huh? Black Dragon Stronghold?"

Im So-Byeong nodded.

"It’s like the main base of the Eighteen Waterway Factions. While Green Stronghold moves around like a nomadic camp, Black Dragon Stronghold is a permanent base where the faction’s strength is concentrated. The Black Dragon King is more like an emperor than a mere leader."

"So, are they gathering there?"

"Not officially, but it’s the nature of bandits and pirates. Even if no one orders them to, they instinctively flock to a stronghold for protection. Whether it’s for help or just to avoid dying alone is anyone’s guess."

"…Are they idiots?"

"All bandits and pirates are like that. Tsk, tsk. Uneducated fools."

Baek Cheon closed his eyes in defeat.

You’re the bandit here, you are.

"So, they’re all heading to Black Dragon Stronghold, then?"

"That’s what I expect."

"And Shaolin and Wudang are also headed there?"

"I would assume so."

Chung Myung finally released Im So-Byeong’s collar and nodded.

"Then we should go too! Senior Brother!"

"…Why?"

"Go tell the sect leader to prepare everyone! We’re going to Black Dragon Stronghold!"

"Why there, of all places?"

"Why do you think? If the pirates and those orthodox idiots gather there, they’ll have a massive battle!"

"…Could you stop calling them ‘those orthodox idiots’?"

If you keep saying that, we sound like we’re part of the unorthodox factions, you idiot!

"If there’s going to be such a huge battle and we’re sitting on the sidelines, what will people say? We set the stage, so if they take all the credit, I won’t be able to sleep! Hurry and get ready!"

"Are we going to fight in the battle?"

Baek Cheon asked seriously, his fighting spirit beginning to rise. But then, Chung Myung answered.

"No."

"…What?"

"We’re just going to watch with our arms crossed. Why would we join in while they’re killing each other?"

The fire that had been burning in Baek Cheon’s heart was immediately doused with cold water.

Shoulders slumping in defeat, Baek Cheon asked weakly.

"…Didn’t you say we couldn’t sit back and do nothing?"

"That’s different. As long as people hear that Mount Hua was there, that’s enough. We don’t need to actually do anything."

"……."

"We’ll just get those beggars to spread rumors about how hard we fought. Or, better yet, have the pirates spread the rumors. If they say they were beaten by us, who wouldn’t believe it?"

"We can handle the rumor-spreading for you. Heh heh heh."

"Exactly! Heh heh heh!"

Watching Chung Myung and Im So-Byeong laugh in perfect sync, Baek Cheon felt like he was in a living nightmare.

"Make sure we prepare some pancakes and wine, too. Watching other people fight while drinking is the best."

"……."

"Hehehehe! I hope they all die! Hahahahaha!"

Baek Cheon quietly looked up at the sky. It was clear and peaceful today.

‘Oh, Heavenly Lord.’

I truly need your help now.

Please, do something about this lunatic...

Please…