Return of the Mount Hua Sect (HTL 1634+)

"Hmm."

A low hum resonated, causing Ho Gamyeong to shiver faintly, despite the small sound not conveying any particular discomfort.

'Damn bastards.'

Even after reconsidering, not immediately informing Jang Ilso about the defection of the Blood Palace was not a wrong decision. If it could be handled at his level, resolving the issue with as little commotion as possible was his duty as a military officer.

At least, until those crazy Blood Palace people did something absurd, like directly attacking Mount Wudang, which could only be seen as an all-out war.

No matter how much Ho Gamyeong oversaw all the information within the Evil Tyrant Alliance, it was impossible to keep such a significant event as a battle with Heavenly Comrade Alliance from reaching Jang Ilso's ears. Even if it were possible, it shouldn't be done, as it would undermine Jang Ilso's authority.

"Gamyeong-ah."

"Yes, Ryeonju-nim."

"Did you know?"

".... I knew about the defection. But I never imagined they would head there...."

"You knew...."

Jang Ilso softly repeated, narrowing his eyes.

"And yet.... it seems you didn't feel the need to inform me."

"..."

"Hmm?"

A bead of sweat rolled down Ho Gamyeong's temple.

His decision was not wrong. But the basis of his judgment was the current situation where Jang Ilso's control wasn't as strong as it used to be. How would Jang Ilso take this? Even Ho Gamyeong couldn't guess.

"Ryeonju-nim, that was…."

"Well done."

Startled, Ho Gamyeong quickly looked up. Jang Ilso shrugged his shoulders as if it was no big deal.

"There's no need for me to be aware of every little thing. Handle it on your own."

Ho Gamyeong stared at Jang Ilso blankly, his face full of confusion.

What had he been doubting and hesitating about? All he needed to do was trust that Jang Ilso was still Jang Ilso.

".... Understood, Ryeonju-nim."

"Where is the Blood Palace Lord now?"

"The palace has returned, but he is still...."

"Really?"

A meaningful smile appeared on Jang Ilso's lips.

"There was no need to confirm it in such a way. It's a bit sooner than I expected."

"What do you mean by that, if I may ask?"

"Ah, I've started talking nonsense again, haven't I? It's fine. You don't need to know just yet. It's not certain anyway."

Listening to his calm and gentle voice made everything seem like just another ordinary day.

But Ho Gamyeong bit his inner cheek. He couldn't just let this go.

"Ryeonju-nim, then what about punishment for them...?"

"Hmm?"

Jang Ilso lazily glanced at Ho Gamyeong.

"They disobeyed Ryeonju-nim orders, left the camp without permission, and engaged in battle with the enemy. If we don't punish them, we won't be able to maintain discipline."

If they had merely defected without attacking Mount Wudang, he might have glossed over it.

Though Ho Gamyeong believed in strict discipline, he wasn't someone who insisted it had to be immediate.

Depending on the situation, letting it slide could benefit the whole. But this matter couldn't be so easily overlooked.

The fact that the Blood Palace attacked Heavenly Comrade Alliance was already widely known within the Evil Tyrant Alliance. If punishment was delayed, it might provide a cause for those already harboring discontent.

"Punishment, you say..."

After a brief silence, Jang Ilso smirked.

"Well, just leave them alone. There's no need for that."

"Rye- Ryeonju-nim...."

Ho Gamyeong looked at Jang Ilso with an expression of utter confusion. Jang Ilso sighed lightly.

"Why? Does it seem like I'm reluctant to touch them?"

"How could I dare think that?"

"Right, of course not."

Jang Ilso smiled faintly.

"Then leave them alone. It's not something I need to do."

"..."

"It's not difficult to give a little nudge with my toe to push those who are scrambling to survive off the edge.... but it's not particularly enjoyable either."

Ho Gamyeong furrowed his brow slightly, finding it hard to grasp his meaning.

'Was it something they had to do? Or did they have no choice but to do so to survive?'

The former could be understood if it was considered part of their principles. But the latter seemed impossible. Who in the world could push the Blood Palace to the brink?

Moreover, the Blood Palace was currently allied with the Evil Tyrant Alliance.

Unless Jang Ilso personally intervened...

"Gamyeong-ah."

".... My apologies."

Lost in thought, Ho Gamyeong snapped back to reality and bowed his head. The reason didn't matter right now.

"Ryeonju-nim, even if they had a reason for going to there, those watching will not easily let this matter go."

"Hmm. Those watching, you say...."

Jang Ilso chuckled mischievously.

"Who are you referring to?"

"That is...."

"What do you think? Do you have any complaints?"

Ho Gamyeong stopped mid-sentence and abruptly closed his mouth. He realized that Jang Ilso's question wasn't directed at him.

Quickly turning around, he saw that the Hao Sect Lord, Thousand Faced Manipulator, was standing behind him, unnoticed.

Ho Gamyeong's expression hardened.

'Why is the Hao Sect Lord here?'

If he had to pick the person he least wanted to deal with right now, it would be Thousand Faced Manipulator. If possible, he would prefer not to face him, at least not now.

However, Thousand Faced Manipulator didn't even glance at Ho Gamyeong. His gaze was fixed solely on Jang Ilso. Thousand Faced Manipulator slowly began to speak.

"If Ryeonju has decided, then all that's left is to follow. If you try to resolve every little complaint, you'll never get anything done."

Jang Ilso gave a small nod and looked down at Ho Gamyeong.

"So, that's it."

"....."

"How about it? Are you reassured now?"

Ho Gamyeong bit his lip.

Considering that the Lord of the Hao Sect, who harbored the most discontent and represented the largest faction within the Evil Tyrant Alliance, had spoken those words, Ho Gamyeong found it difficult to bring up the issue any further.

No, on second thought, it should be a relief.

Thousand Faced Manipulator's statement proved that he had completely submitted to Jang Ilso. As long as he didn't bring up any grievances from the past, many issues could be resolved, making the recent Blood Palace incident seem trivial by comparison.

"Gamyeong-ah."

Jang Ilso lightly urged a response. Ho Gamyeong sighed and replied.

"If the Hao Sect Lord says so, I believe it's right for me not to mention this matter any further."

As he spoke, Ho Gamyeong openly glanced at Thousand Faced Manipulator, as if trying to gauge his reaction.

However, Thousand Faced Manipulator didn't react at all. It was as if he intended to bury all past grievances. Although there would never be any talk of a reconciliation, the term "truce" might be appropriate.

"Then it's settled. Now then...."

"However, there is one thing I would like to ask."

Thousand Faced Manipulator suddenly interrupted, cutting off Jang Ilso's words. His gaze seemed almost probing, as if he were searching for something.

Jang Ilso asked calmly, "What are you curious about?"

"A moment ago, you said there was no need for you to punish them. May I ask what you meant by that?"

Jang Ilso's lips curled into a low, soft laugh.

"I meant it literally."

".... Pardon?"

"I don't need to punish him. There's someone else who will."

The expression on Thousand Faced Manipulator's face stiffened slightly.

There was something he didn't know. Something that even the Hao Sect's information network hadn't uncovered. But he couldn't probe any further.

Jang Ilso smiled at him.

"More importantly, you know why I called you, right?"

".... Yes."

"Start preparing. The punishment isn't my concern, but it wouldn't be fun to let the opportunity I've created go to waste."

"I will follow your orders."

Thousand Faced Manipulator bowed respectfully. He appeared to have no doubts or reservations. However, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

'What is it?'

What was he missing? Something that Jang Ilso knew but he didn't.

Thousand Faced Manipulator's gaze remained fixed on Jang Ilso, who was smiling faintly. Once again, he had no idea what the man was thinking.

Meanwhile, the calm and languid look in Jang Ilso's eyes began to heat up again. His emotions were boiling over.

He could sense it. The poison that had sustained the world was collapsing.

The world everyone feared would soon arrive. A hell where even someone like Jang Ilso could only struggle.

But.

'Just because something is destined to be lost…. doesn't mean I shouldn't take it.'

He would take it all. Even if it was nothing more than an empty shell. Even if it meant sacrificing everything. That was how Jang Ilso lived as Jang Ilso.

"The time has come to struggle."

With a sneer and a hint of madness, his gaze turned northward.

"Everyone, in their own way."

* * *

His head was pressed low against the ground. No, even that phrase failed to fully describe his current state.

His head was so deeply buried in the ground that it seemed as if he was trying to dig into it.

Trembling in fear, shivering in anxiety, groaning in despair.

If someone saw this scene, they would find it truly bizarre. The one bowing as if begging for forgiveness for a grave sin faced nothing in front of them.

The person's face was wrapped in bandages, which were starting to soak with moisture around the eyes.

"I tried my best to carry out the order.... but my abilities were so inadequate that I couldn't fulfill it. Please understand the shortcomings of this pitiful one and forgive my failings.... I beg you...."

His body was trembling uncontrollably.

He was someone who was not permitted to experience fear in front of others. As someone who led a cult, he was supposed to be a resolute person, bearing numerous burdens.

But now, he appeared no more than a pitiful weakling. A being who seemed unable to survive without groveling, who could not be forgiven without bowing his head.

The Blood Cult Lord felt no sense of humiliation in this situation.

"If you forgive this one's sin and grant me another chance, I will carry out your will with all my heart. Please...."

He slammed his forehead against the ground again, producing a dull thud.

Then he fell silent. While it's true that groveling is a weapon of the weak, overusing it can lead to worse consequences. He knew this well.

Time passed.

To others, it might have seemed like a short time, but to the Blood Cult Lord, it felt like an eternity as he faithfully carried out this insane act.

Finally, a voice broke the silence.

"I thought you at least had the wit of a rat."

The Blood Cult Lord trembled as if in shock.

He still couldn't sense anything with his energy detection. But there was no doubt that it was right here, directly in front of his bowed head.

The Blood Cult Lord's entire body was consumed by fear. What did it mean to be unable to sense the presence of someone standing just a step away?

"You seem to be nothing more than an insect."

The Blood Cult Lord's breath quickened. The voice continued.

"Still, if that's the case, the responsibility lies with me as well. It's my mistake for giving a difficult task to a worthless insect."

"I was only trying to—"

Crack!

In that instant, one of the Blood Cult Lord's arms twisted.

Crack, crack.

With a horrific sound, his arm twisted and contorted wildly, though no one had touched it. Then it was torn apart, shredding itself from his body.

"Ugh.... ugh...."

The groan was faint. It wasn't because the pain was bearable. In fact, the pain was so excruciating that he felt like he might faint at any moment, but he wasn't even granted the freedom to scream loudly.

"But even an insect might listen if beaten. What do you think?"

"I... I will definitely... take the opportunity...."

"I'll give you one."

"....."

"But remember this, one who has strayed from the path: you have no need for any thoughts other than mine. If you disappoint me again, not only you but all your followers will come to long for death."

"I... I will...."

"Don't forget. You are free from my restrictions. Nothing you possess holds even the slightest value."

The Blood Cult Lord hastily, fervently, nodded his head.

"I will obey!"

"Then go and carry out your task."

"With all my devotion."

The eyes of the one looking down at the Blood Cult Lord were chillingly cold. Those emotionless eyes soon filled with a deep, dark aura.

Madness swirled within, as if it might erupt at any moment.

Barely restraining it, he turned his gaze to the south.

"…. Central Plains, is it?"

A boundless yearning and rage flickered simultaneously in his eyes. The eyes that stared at the land he had once walked were filled with nothing but malice.

"I will find out. Whether this long wait has truly been worth it."

A solitary figure standing proud and alone.

In the past, the world called him the Heavenly Executioner.