Chapter 1077: Next Time It'll Be Your Neck (Part 2)

"...Honestly, this has crossed the line."

"That's what I'm saying."

A disappointed sigh escaped Yoon Jong's mouth.

He fought dragons and flocks of wolves. Now, surrounded by tigers, bears, and wildcats altogether, wasn't this a situation where even the cleverest calculations and strategies were useless?

Facing the enemy with the support of Jang Ilso and Hongyeon, they were already at a disadvantage. It was impossible for them to break through here, even if they were to die and come back to life.

"What do we do?"

"We..."

"At least think of something! Sasuk!"

"I'm not the strategist here!"

At Baek Cheon's exclamation, everyone's gaze turned towards Im Sobyeong.

"Well, is there a solution?"

In response to the hopeful looks, Im Sobyeong smiled confidently.

"What do you think of me? Of course, there is."

"Oh?"

Hope filled everyone's eyes. Receiving the trusting gazes, Im Sobyeong spoke firmly.

"It would be painful to be caught and killed by those Evil Sect brats, so it's better to voluntarily surrender here. It preserves our honor, protects our bodies, and..."

"Are you crazy?"

"What nonsense is this!"

"This damned bandit!"

"Monk, calm down a bit."

"...No."

As criticism poured in, Im Sobyeong sighed with a face full of injustice.

"Even if Zhuge Gongmyung comes back alive, there's no solution. What do you expect me to do in this situation?"

"Then it should have been resolved before it got to this point! Why did you help that Jang Ilso?"

"Or else we would all be dead by now."

"What's different now?"

"Haha. Don't we die a bit later? It's just a moment, a moment. At least I can prepare mentally... Uh, by the way, monk? Why are you clenching your fist?"

Namgung Dowi cautiously grabbed Hye Yeon's fist. It was because he feared that the small golden light inside the fist would pierce Im Sobyeong's jaw.

Baek Cheon looked at those approaching from Mount Hua and sharpened his senses.

Watching Hongyeon blend in among the Black Ghost Castle as if they were already on the same side was frustrating, almost to the point of turning his stomach.

'These spineless bastards.'

Although it could be said that Jang Ilso's influence was exceptional, at this moment, Baek Cheon was not in a situation to generously admire such facts.

"But these bastards!"

Jo Gol emitted a threatening aura towards the approaching Black Ghost Castle, which was tightening its encirclement.

The elite troops of Black Ghost Castle, who were approaching, hesitated and stepped back. However, shortly after, they smiled significantly and closed the distance again.

It was not the reaction seen so far. Black Ghost Castle had perfectly regained its composure. The disciples of Mount Hua swallowed dry saliva and sweated coldly due to tension.

That's when it happened.

"Oh dear."

A voice, too unmistakably clear about whom it belonged to, rang out loudly. As if enjoying the pouring awe and fear, Jang Ilso, frozen in the rigid world, calmly moved his feet alone. The elite guards of Black Ghost Castle, blocking his way, quickly stepped aside to clear the path.

"It's an unexpected situation."

As if relishing the overflowing admiration and fear, Jang Ilso, like an emperor, moved his feet without a care in the world. Towards none other than Mount Hua.

"The energetic heroes of Mount Hua..."

A voice that seemed to be teasing, yet was impossible to resist against.

"Why are you all cowering like this?"

The faces of Mount Hua disciples twisted in misery upon hearing those words.

"Surely you don't think of this Jang Ilso... as such an evil person who betrays the comrades I fought with, right? Huh?"

"..."

"If you thought that, wouldn't it be a bit disappointing?"

Baek Cheon bit his lip tightly. He now fully understood the sentiments of the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold just before his death. Was there another person in the world as dreadful to deal with as Jang Ilso, who seized control like this?

It felt as if Jang Ilso had reached into his chest, grabbed his beating heart at will, and then casually let it go.

"This is quite awkward."

Finally arriving nearby, Jang Ilso chuckled ominously.

"You firmly believe that I'm such a sinister guy... Should I live up to those expectations, or... perhaps gracefully step away?"

Baek Cheon growled as if to himself.

"I never had any intention of letting you go from the beginning. Don't spout nonsense."

Sharp words poured out, and a strangely joyful expression flitted across Jang Ilso's face. He swept his face with long fingers.

But before he could respond, Ho Gakmyung, who was following behind, spoke up with a slightly urgent tone.

"Ryeonjul, we need to kill them."

At that moment, Jang Ilso's gaze, which had been fixed on Mount Hua, shifted slightly to the rear.

"We must kill them."

Hogamyung was looking at Mount Hua, specifically at Chung Myung with closed eyes.

"They may have contributed, but they are too dangerous. Especially him..."

"Tsk, Gakmyung."

Jang Ilso cut him off with a displeased remark.

"If you say that, I'll end up looking like such a bad person."

"...I apologize, Ryeonjul, but this matter..."

"Of course, there's nothing as foolish as hoping for mercy from the Evil Sect. We, and even they, know that. However..."

Jang Ilso's peculiar gaze shifted, specifically towards Mount Hua, and within that, towards Baek Cheon.

"While there may be no divinity in the Evil Sect, there is still loyalty, isn't there?"

"Ryeonjul... Even so, isn't it wrong to abandon practical interests for the sake of loyalty?"

"Hmm."

Jang Ilso lightly tapped his own cheek, looking somewhat troubled. Then, he widened his eyes and stared at Baek Cheon.

"So, that's how it is."

"..."

"This may be unfortunate for you, but I'm a more compassionate superior than you might think. When a subordinate pleads so earnestly, isn't it unbecoming for someone in a higher position to coldly refuse?"

"This bastard..."

"That's why I'm so worried. How should I handle this?"

The Mount Hua disciples bit their lips.

It was as if a cat was taunting a mouse. Wasn't it the calculation of how to toy with the prey already caught, to play with it as much as possible before killing it?

Baek Cheon, with eyes that seemed ready to kill, stared at Jang Ilso and said.

"This guy seems to have some misconceptions. If he thinks we're like the opponents he faced before, it's a big mistake. We won't be humiliated even if we die."

"...Oh?"

"If you don't know that, your fragile neck might be cut off, Jang Ilso."

"Your head might explode."

"A knife could be thrust into your back at any moment."

Looking at Mount Hua's disciples who were retorting, Jang Ilso shook his head as if he were helpless against them.

"These mountain cats are quite good at growling."

Jang Ilso's eyes sank coldly.

"But... as I look closer, I become curious. Will you still boast when your throat is being cut and your teeth are falling out?"

As he finished speaking, he raised his hand slightly.

"Oh, no, no. I shouldn't say this to you. I need to correct myself."

A peculiar smile appeared at the corner of Jang Ilso's mouth.

"Can one flaunt their pride even as they watch their comrade's throat being cut right next to them?"

"You...!"

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth. The blood vessels in his eyes started to swell.

All the subtle admiration he had for Jang Ilso, unavoidable after facing the Demonic Sect together and subsequently the Black Ghost Castle, completely vanished. Blood rushed to his head. Baek Cheon stamped on the ground as if he would run forward at any moment.

Then, a cold voice from behind made him freeze.

"Go on."

Baek Cheon's head instinctively turned back. It was impossible to divert his gaze away from Jang Ilso when he was right in front of him, but hearing that familiar voice made it possible.

"Chung Myung...!"

"Hey, bro!"

"...It's so damn late. Seriously."

Sighs of relief escaped from those surrounding Chung Myung.

It was an absurd sight.

Only one more person had joined. They were still surrounded by Black Ghost Castle and Hongyeon, threatened by Jang Ilso, the leader of the martial world, and the Thousand-Faced Gentleman.

However, the moment that one person opened their eyes, an indescribable sense of relief settled on the faces of Mount Hua disciples, as if merely by waking up, this person could resolve the entire situation.

Chung Myung, who scanned those looking back at him, fixed his gaze on Jang Ilso. Jang Ilso was looking at him with a strange smile.

"Who's cutting whose throat?"

A voice that seemed to blow like a northern wind. The Hongyeon instinctively lowered their posture at that voice, ready to jump in at any moment to protect Jang Ilso's front.

"Give it a try. Whose throat will be cut?"

"Hmm."

Jang Ilso raised his hand and lightly touched his chin.

"...If it comes to this, the story will undoubtedly change a bit, but... isn't this a bit too much? This isn't a situation for threats to be made... Right, Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword?"

"So, try it."

Baek Cheon, as if still not trusting Chung Myung's physical condition, blocked him with a worried expression. However, Chung Myung lightly patted his shoulder, passed by, and stepped forward.

"Now, there's nothing you can't do, right?"

"...What does that mean?"

"There is no reason to keep alive an Evil Sect cub that has reached the end of its usefulness."

At that moment, the disciples of Mount Hua clearly saw it. The face of Jang Ilso, who had been wearing a creepy smile, froze for a moment.

But Jang Ilso's stiff expression disappeared rapidly, as if there had never been such a thing in the first place. With a face that had suddenly softened, Jang Ilso asked leisurely.

"So... It's not that I used you, but you used me?"

"That's the glory of the living. Didn't you use that useless Evil Sect scum as fertilizer, killing them and making use of their remains? Ah, you don't really need to thank him. People don't express gratitude to tools, do they? Isn't that so?"

"Hahaha... Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword."

Jang Ilso's face twisted.

"It's really amazing how you scratch people's insides. I have to admit that. But... you should be careful. My patience might not be that great."

"You may not know, but I have something I'm good at."

Chung Myung grabbed the sword hanging from his waist.

"Cutting the throat of pathetic Evil Sect scum, even in the afterlife, to let them know their place. How about it? Don't you want to check it out?"

A blue energy emanated from Jang Ilso's eyes. In response to that gaze, Chung Myung also revealed a murderous smile.

Righteous and evil.

The representatives of the two forces were now openly revealing their hostility towards each other without any restraint.

With a common enemy like the Demonic Sect and the Black Ghost Castle, the fragile connection that had been maintained. The moment that thread was severed, these two became nothing more and nothing less than the most detestable enemies.

As the two individuals returned to their original positions, their overwhelming energy spread in all directions.