Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 1735



Only Noblemtl

Episode 1735. What is right? (5)

Recovery after a battle is harder than you might think.

Especially if the battle ends in a way that cannot escape the word ‘defeat’, the person commanding the army is bound to face numerous problems.

Falling morale, cut off supplies, enemies who might strike again at any moment… … .

And above all, the anxiety that the next battle might result in defeat again.

Trying to put it all together was like trying to restore a rag to its original shape.

However, Ho Ga-myeong, the commander of the Sapaeryeon Army, surprisingly accomplished everything without much difficulty.

Even he was a man who fully understood and accepted that it would not be possible to do it with his own abilities alone.

Just like right now.

The tent that had been put up temporarily was rather crude, rather than fancy or luxurious. It was a space that would be more appropriate to describe as a bit bleak. Nevertheless, no one who set foot in there would dare to say that.

It was because of the large chair placed in the center of the inside of the tent and a person leaning against it lazily.

Even though he wasn’t giving off any special vibes or doing anything spectacular, the man had complete control of the large tent just by his presence.

“so?”

Jang Il-so, leaning back awkwardly on a wide chair, asked with an indifferent look.

“I don’t really like beating around the bush. What are you trying to say?”

Princess Sun Jinpyeong bit her lip.

Hurt.

The wound from the previous battle that had been pierced by the volcano’s cub still stung. It was an injury that could have been life-threatening. Of course, the scars from that battle were no longer on his body, but the memory of that moment could not be erased or burned.

But the pain that was causing the Sun Princess to groan now was not something that the little girl had left behind. The Sun Princess spoke as if she was chewing.

“A Thousand Faces Investigation… … What are you going to do with that author?”

The Sun Palace Lady’s eyes, filled with rage, seemed ready to pierce through Jang Il-so.

“The princess must have heard that the bastard attacked me! Then how is he alive and well and walking around here! Why!”

An angry roar echoed through the tent.

In fact, it is false to say that the Thousand Face Detective is walking around here. He has been in hiding since the last battle.

But everyone knew what the Sun Princess wanted to say.

“Answer me, Lian Zhu! Is this truly the way of the Four-legged Faction?”

What angered the Sun Princess, who barely regained consciousness after struggling for several days, was not the defeat in battle. It was not the loss of the archers’ lives.

The fact itself was that the person who had attacked him and caused all this had not been punished in any way.

He found it difficult to tolerate this complacent attitude.

“I’m not asking right now!”

Jang Il-so looked at Princess Sun in front of him with narrowed eyes without moving an inch. Then he spoke in a cold voice.

“This is the second time I’ve said this. I don’t like beating around the bush. Just tell me the conclusion.”

Jang Il-so slowly leaned forward from where he had been leaning back. Then, he turned his head toward Princess Sun and asked secretly.

“What do you want? Tell me. What do you want?”

“… … that bastard’s neck.”

“… … Huh.”

“At least an arm. No, I need a leg. Otherwise, my anger will never subside!”

Jang Il-so tapped my cheek with his long fingers, somewhat exaggeratedly, as if he was worried.

“If this matter is not resolved, our Sun Palace will return to the South Sea immediately. This is… … .”

“A warning? Or a threat? Which is it?”

Princess Sun couldn’t continue speaking and closed her mouth. Jang Il-so’s eyes, smiling with his chin resting on his hand, felt incredibly cold.

“It’s not difficult. Yes, it’s not difficult. If you commit a crime, you should be punished. Isn’t that right?”

Just as the Sun Princess was about to nod her head.

“But… … then isn’t that a little unfair?”

“… …Unfair?”

“Cheonmyeonsusa committed a crime. He attacked his comrades. But… … If that’s a crime worthy of losing an arm, what kind of punishment should the one who failed to stop those bastards and became the direct cause of the defeat receive?”

At that moment, the Sun Princess’s face visibly hardened.

“Lianzhu, that’s… … .”

“Answer me. What punishment should I receive?”

It was not that I had nothing to say to the Princess of the Sun. I just couldn’t answer. That was because I could see the murderous look on Jang Il-so’s smiling face with my own eyes.

The fear of Jang Il-so, which had been momentarily forgotten due to the boiling anger, instantly cooled the blood of Princess Sun.

“I am…….”

But he did not back down easily. It was not because he was angry. It was because the pride of the Sun Palace was the Sun Palace Lord himself. For that reason, he could not back down like this.

The Sun Princess bit her lips tightly.

“If that’s Yeonju’s answer… … we’ll go back to Namhae.”

Jang Il-so sighed and shook his head as if he felt truly sorry.

“Oh, oh. Why are you becoming more and more stupid?”

“… …Lianzhu!”

“Don’t you know yet? There is no way back for you now.”

Jinpyeong gritted his teeth, taking Jang Il-so’s words as a threat. However, Jang Il-so’s next words were a little different.

“The war will end now. Neither we nor they have the strength to continue this war. So what happens after that?”

For a moment, Jinpyeong’s eyes briefly shook.

I repeat, Jinpyeong is by no means a stupid person. So, it is impossible for him not to understand the meaning of those words.

After the war, there are winners and losers.

Since most of the power they have already mobilized is already gone, there is no ending where they just deal moderate damage to each other and then draw a line again. There will only be an ending where one side is completely crushed.

If that happens… … .

Can the victor who has swallowed up all the blood and resentment be satisfied with just the satisfaction of swallowing up a chunk of Central Plains?

When Jinpyeong couldn’t say anything, Jang Il-so laughed out loud.

“From the moment you step into the mud, it’s impossible to get out without getting yourself dirty. You either survive in the mud… or you die there. There are only two options.”

“this…….”

“그리고 다소 안타깝지만…… 그 진창에서 살아남기 위해서는 뭐든 이용해야 하는 법 아니겠니? 설령 그게 동료의 가슴에 비수를 박아 넣는 개새끼라 해도 말이다.”

Jinpyeong’s face trembled. He was about to twist his body, unable to bear the anger and humiliation, when Jang Il-so opened his mouth again, smiling.

“Let’s do half. Half of the wealth that Haomun has accumulated so far. That should be enough as compensation, right?”

Jinpyeong looked at Jang Il-so with slightly surprised eyes.

“If it’s not enough, I’ll add a little. It’s also my fault for not managing it properly. I’ve taken out some of the wealth that the old Black Ghost saved, so it should be enough to save face. How is it? Are you satisfied?”

After a moment of thought, Princess Sun nodded slowly.

In fact, I didn’t come here expecting any kind of compensation, but the amount of money Jang Il-so offered was enough to make even the Sun Palace Lady astonished. With that amount of money, not only could they solidify the Sun Palace’s position, but they could also instantly stabilize Yunnan, which would fall into their hands after the war.

For that much money, I can easily endure anger.

“I promise… … .”

“of course.”

Jang Il-so lifted the bottle of liquor in front of him and tilted it toward the empty glass.

“I have never broken a promise before.”

The two snake-like eyes stared at the Sun Princess as if they were piercing through her. She still had a hint of a smile on her face.

“Drink. Alcohol is a good medicine to get rid of stale emotions.”

Jinpyeong reached out and took the glass. He hesitated for a moment, but soon took a sip.

Jang Il-so looked at him with a big smile.

Jinpyeong didn’t know.

Jang Il-so’s cool gaze leaking out from between his gently curved, oily eyes.

The endlessly cold and deep, bottomless gaze was pulling Princess Sun Jinpyeong into a faraway depth.

After Princess Sun left, Jang Il-so, who remained in the tent, lifted the glass full of alcohol and looked down at the alcohol that was sloshing around as if it would overflow at any moment.

It is barely contained in the cup without overflowing, just like the current Sa-pae-ryeon.

“Would he be satisfied?”

In response to Ho Ga-myeong’s question, Jang Il-so spoke with his eyes still on the glass.

“That doesn’t matter. What’s needed in these times is not satisfaction, but acceptance.”

“I understand… … .”

“To put it more clearly, isn’t that a convincing excuse?”

Jang Il-so smiled brightly.

“Even so, you are a precious person. Those authors sometimes value grand causes over practical gain.”

Hogamyeong nodded in agreement.

The wealth is not important. What is important is that the wealth was obtained in the name of Haomen’s apology and Sapae-ryeon’s compensation. As the Sun Palace Lady, it will be enough of a feat to show to the archers.

‘It’s a mess.’

I admit that it is unfair from the perspective of the Sun Palace Lady. Even if the Sun Palace Lady were to hold Ho Ga-myeong responsible and try to kill him, it would be understandable.

But the current response is really pathetic. If you have a grudge against Hao Wenzhou, you can just go see him directly. Even though he has gone into hiding, he has not left the battlefield. To discuss Hao Wenzhou’s business, it would be… … .

‘It may mean that there was no intention to hold Haomunju accountable in the first place.’

Or maybe it was a calculation that they couldn’t afford to lose that much power before the war. In any case, this will keep the Sun Princess quiet for the time being.

“It’s always like that.”

“yes?”

“It’s always a tightrope walk.”

Jang Il-so said, quietly looking at the glass that seemed to be overflowing.

“Giving your all is far from stable. Problems are bound to arise, and things will inevitably shake. It’s as if it’s going to burst at any moment.”

Hogamyeong nodded without realizing it.

“Being able to handle that is a skill.”

Jang Il-so, who had been muttering, suddenly turned his gaze toward the tent entrance through which Princess Sun had come out.

“It’s easier to handle a young child. If you put a piece of candy in their mouth, they stop crying.”

“Are you worried about the investigation into the thousand faces?”

“Even old ginger is easier to handle than you think. Those who value their lives more than anything else don’t take chances. No matter how deep their grudge is like the ocean.”

Jang Il-so’s eyes sank gloomily.

“The truly difficult things to deal with are… … things that you’re not sure what you want.”

Ho Ga-myeong realized who Jang Il-so was talking about.

“Where were they at that time?”

“It is said that he climbed the mountain and entered the shaman’s house.”

“No, no. Gamyeong, that’s what I’m asking next.”

“……yes?”

“After that, he disappeared for another day or so. Then he calmly rejoined the group. Right?”

Hoga-myeong answered yes, but he had some doubts inside.

Isn’t that something that can happen at any time? Especially on a battlefield where lives are at stake.

It was right after a big defeat. Even if they spent the whole day wondering if it was right to continue to be with the Sapaeryeon, it wasn’t something to be ashamed of. Not everyone has multiple lives.

However, Jang Il-so, who knows this fact better than anyone else, is tripping over it.

“Your Majesty. They are… … .”

“I know, pseudonym. Nothing is certain in this world.”

The conversation seemed to be going well, but it was strangely out of sync. But before Hogamyeong could figure out the reason for the discrepancy, Jang Il-so opened his mouth.

“But, you know. Even if you can’t make it certain, can’t you put a knife to that neck?”

“… … .”

“Bring the Blood Princess.”

The corners of Jang Il-so’s mouth went up strangely.

“I’m curious. What on earth are you thinking?”

The eyes that had been calm and still throughout began to boil again.