Chapter 806: "Great to See You Again, You Bastard!" (1)

 

"…Hwasan."

"…Yes, Sect Leader."

"Gather the disciples."

"Yes!"

Heo Do-jin bit down on his pale lips.

Casualties?

No, surprisingly, they weren’t that high. Considering the overwhelming attack, a dozen injuries and a few deaths were a small toll.

From a glance, Shaolin’s losses seemed similar to Wudang's, and Namgung’s losses were slightly higher. Cheongseong, positioned toward the back, was fortunate to have suffered the least.

So, where did all this blood come from?

"These… insane bastards…”

Heo Do-jin muttered in disgust and barely suppressed his nausea.

The blood soaking the ground mostly belonged to the Black Dragon Stronghold's forces.

That indiscriminate, blind attack had crushed more of the Black Dragon Stronghold’s own men than anyone else.

"Hahahahahahahahaha!"

Jang Il-so, who had been laughing maniacally, finally began to calm down. He covered his mouth, but residual giggles scraped against everyone’s ears like nails on a chalkboard.

It sounded like a victory chant.

“Haaa…”

After regaining his composure, Jang Il-so shook his head.

“Apologies. As a man with no upbringing, I struggle to contain my emotions. Please understand.”

"…"

Heo Do-jin found himself wondering what expression he must be wearing. Along with that, a deep sense of confusion settled within him.

How was he supposed to understand this man?

This person who defied explanation, even as a monster.

"…Did you use gunpowder?"

At his question, Jang Il-so nodded leisurely, almost as if complimenting Heo Do-jin for figuring it out.

“Luck brought it into my hands.”

“So you used gunpowder?”

“As you can see, it works marvelously.”

Heo Do-jin ground his teeth together.

“Setting aside the fact that you broke all honor and used gunpowder—that was expected from the likes of you. But no matter how unorthodox you are, you’re not animals! How could you launch such a merciless, blind attack when your own allies were below? Is that your way?”

His voice rang through the valley, filled with righteous anger. But even his shout, loaded with rage, couldn’t shake Jang Il-so.

“Yes, that’s our way.”

“Don’t you even have pride as a martial artist?”

"Pride?"

Jang Il-so licked his lips slowly, and the sight was so chilling it sent shivers down Heo Do-jin’s spine.

"Pride? So, for you, pride means meeting in fair combat, staking your life, and in the end, yielding your head?"

"…"

“Different. Very different. My pride is about winning at any cost, doing whatever it takes, sacrificing whatever is necessary. I will defeat my enemies. I will survive. No matter what.”

Raising his voice briefly, Jang Il-so softened back into a grin.

“That’s my pride.”

"…"

“Now, enough of this tedious talk. Heo Do-jin, I assume you understand your situation by now. Surely you don’t believe I stopped with just this?”

Heo Do-jin clenched his lips tightly.

He knew.

Only one side of the cliff had collapsed. The tall and wide cliff that surrounded them… what fell was perhaps only one-tenth of its entire mass.

Even for Jang Il-so, he would have planned more than this. From the moment he lured them into this canyon, he must have wired the whole cliff with gunpowder.

‘If the entire cliff collapses?’

They die.

Everyone dies.

In the chaos, a few of the peak masters might survive, but at what cost? What would be the meaning of such survival?

Crack.

Heo Do-jin’s face twisted, veins pulsing. The grinding of his teeth was almost audible.

It must have taken immense effort to place that much gunpowder and prepare for the cliff’s collapse.

Checking the terrain, preparing the plan… it must have taken considerable time.

‘That means…’

From the start. From the moment they decided to attack Black Dragon Stronghold, or perhaps from the moment they entered the Yangtze…

‘No, even before that.’

Jang Il-so had orchestrated all of this, drawing them in. It meant that Shaolin, Wudang, Namgung, and Cheongseong, the four great orthodox sects, had all danced in Jang Il-so’s palm.

“Amitabha.”

Beopgye seemed to share Heo Do-jin’s thoughts, letting out a low, somber chant.

“Conqueror. What is it you want?”

“What I want?”

“Yes. Surely, you made us understand our situation because you have demands. After all, understanding enables negotiation.”

But before Beopgye could finish, Namgung Hwang shouted furiously.

“What are you saying, Elder! Are you suggesting we negotiate with these filthy unorthodox scum?”

“Lord Namgung!”

Beopgye’s own booming voice cut through, momentarily startling Namgung Hwang into silence.

“Leave it to me for a moment. Just a moment!”

"…Damn it."

In the end, Namgung Hwang cursed with a cold glare and fell silent. Beopgye clenched his fist tightly.

It wasn’t as if he wanted to negotiate with them. Shaolin disciples had already died at their hands.

The precious life of a beloved disciple had been snuffed out, crushed by stone rather than a sword. No amount of revenge on Jang Il-so would suffice to ease his anger.

But that couldn’t be the priority.

If these attacks continued, they wouldn’t hold out. Even if half their number survived, the four sects would be set back a century or more, possibly even longer.

In the past, during the war with the Demonic Cult, everyone suffered losses, and their ranks had not been destabilized.

But this was different. If they failed here, the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families could face a shift in hierarchy, possibly even demotion.

Beopgye couldn’t accept that outcome. He wasn’t even an abbot, only an elder.

He scanned the cliff.

Now he saw it clearly.

Where he hadn’t noticed before, black holes dotted the cliff, likely stuffed with more gunpowder.

Ropes connected to each hole, leading up to the cliff top. A fuse system, perhaps.

As he looked back at Jang Il-so, Beopgye bit his lip.

‘No matter what it takes, we must get out of here.’

Even if that meant negotiating terms, even if it was humiliating.

“The other sect leaders agree with my judgment, do they not?”

“Yes, yes.” Byeok Hyeon-ja nodded quickly.

But Heo Do-jin remained silent, his pride refusing to let him voice agreement to negotiating with unorthodox scum.

But Beopgye couldn’t wait for him to answer.

“Speak, Conqueror! What is it you want?”

Regardless of Wudang’s stance later, this crisis needed to be resolved first.

Yet Jang Il-so’s response was far from what Beopgye anticipated.

“Haha. What I want?”

A sly grin crossed Jang Il-so’s face.

“So, is it because you’re tucked away in your mountain hideouts, playing at being kings, that you ask such naive questions? What do I want?”

"…"

“What do I want? Isn’t it obvious?”

Jang Il-so smiled exaggeratedly, spreading his arms wide, flaunting his sleeves.

“For the lives of those who trespassed into Sapae Alliance territory! The only thing I want is your total annihilation!”

"…"

“Don’t misunderstand, monk. I spared you not out of mercy but because the crimes you committed deserve a death far worse than mere slaughter.”

Beopgye’s eyes began to tremble.

“Understand why you’re dying, who you’re dying to, and how you’re dying! I’ll make your deaths a message to the world of Sapae Alliance’s ascendance! Not a single one of you will survive! Not a single one!”

For a moment, despair flashed in Beopgye’s eyes.

‘How can such madness exist in this world?’

This was beyond insanity.

Crack!

In contrast, Heo Do-jin clenched his jaw, unable to suppress his fury.

‘So Wudang’s legacy might end in my era.’

Considering the worst possible outcome, Heo Do-jin’s fingers trembled slightly.

“The world will learn from your blood that the era of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families has ended! Now, the Central Plains will fall under the name of Sapae Alliance!”

Jang Il-so gently brushed his face, his fingers trembling with excitement.

The Great General Mang-geum watched silently, a twisted grin on his lips.

“To think this day would come so soon.”

The Black Dragon King laughed heartily as well.

“I’ll make them pay for every brother who died along the Yangtze!”

Despite the presence of Black Dragon Stronghold’s men, the Black Dragon King spoke as if they were nonexistent.

“If these four sects fall, then the north will be ours for the taking.”

Excitement was plain on the Thousand-Faced Killer’s face as well.

Watching them, Heo Do-jin whispered softly.

“Hwasan.”

"…Yes, Sect Leader."

So quiet that no one else could hear him.

“When I give the signal, take the disciples and leave.”

“...Sect Leader. Wouldn’t it be better to focus on dismantling the explosives?”

“Shaolin and Namgung will handle that.”

Heo Do-jin glanced subtly to the side. Sure enough, Beopgye and Namgung Hwang were examining the holes in the cliff.

“Leave it to them. The priority is to save as many disciples as possible.”

"…"

Hwasan bit his lip, hesitating to answer.

Heo Do-jin’s order essentially meant using Shaolin and Namgung as shields while Wudang made their escape.

It was far from a negotiation. But Hwasan had no choice but to obey.

“…Understood.”

As Hwasan complied, Heo Do-jin clenched his fist tightly.

‘Sapae Alliance…’

Ultimately, he was to blame.

Underestimating his enemies. Letting pride cloud his vision. Every misstep had led to this.

If shame was his to bear, he would bear it alone. But Wudang’s disciples had to survive, no matter what.

‘If Shaolin and Namgung move swiftly, they may disable half the explosives.’

They only needed to cut the fuses.

Of course, the unorthodox warriors wouldn’t sit idly by, so it would be impossible to disable them all—at best, half.

‘Then, those who survive will clash with the enemies atop the cliff.’

Both sides would suffer devastating losses.

‘For now…’

As Heo Do-jin calculated his next move, Jang Il-so raised his hand high, his robe billowing.

“So, the rats are scheming. But no matter how much you think, you won’t find an escape. Now, die!”

Heo Do-jin’s gaze shot up in alarm.

‘No, don’t!’

“Hwasan! Lead the disciples and—!”

Just then, a voice rang clear across the cliff, loud and filled with internal energy.

“Why does my stomach churn whenever I see that bastard’s face?”

Jang Il-so’s raised hand slowly lowered.

His gaze shifted across to the other side.

Boom!

With a tremendous explosion, several black-clad unorthodox warriors screamed and fell, plummeting from the cliff.

Those had been the guards of the cliff where Sapae Alliance held control.

Step. Step.

As their guards tumbled down, a figure emerged slowly on the cliff.

“...Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon.”

It was Chung Myung.

“Don’t you agree, seniors?”

“Oh, I completely agree.”

And with him, Mount Hua’s disciples.

“…”

For the first time, Jang Il-so’s smile vanished.

“Hey.”

"…"

“It’s great to see you again, you bastard!”

Chung Myung grinned—a wicked, devilish smile.