The boat slowly approached and reached the riverside.
Yoon Jong, who had been watching Jang Ilso on the boat, felt it anew.
It was truly strange. No matter what conversation they were having or what situation they were in, everything changed the moment the man appeared.
It had been the same when he saw the man in the past at Mount Hua, at the gate's entrance, and during encounters with the Black Dragon Pirates and on Plum Blossom Island.
He had thought it was because they always met in dramatic situations, but at this moment he understood for sure: Jang Ilso was someone who changed the atmosphere around him simply by his presence.
Amid a strange silence that could erupt at any moment, Jang Ilso slowly raised his hand.
The hand, hidden in the wide, ornate sleeve, was revealed, and the five-colored ring dazzled Yoon Jong's eyes.
"This…"
Jang Ilso covered his mouth with his hand and widened his eyes.
"Was this an inappropriate moment for me to intervene?"
It wasn't particularly strange, but it made Yoon Jong uncomfortable. The fact that ordinary words came from Jang Ilso's mouth felt as unsettling as a Buddhist swearing at Buddha.
Jang Ilso stepped off the boat and leisurely approached them.
Clank.
The sound of his footsteps in the shallow water pierced everyone's ears.
He stopped at an appropriate distance, bowed slightly to Hyun Jong, and then spoke.
"If you're sharing personal thoughts, I can step back and return later. I have that much sense."
He smiled as if chuckling.
Baek Cheon, who had grown angry without realizing it, tried to rebuke him, but Chung Myung's calm voice cut in first.
"If you had such sense, you wouldn't have shown up here alone, right?"
"Hmm?"
Chung Myung bared his teeth in a grin.
"If not, did you get tired of the balls on your body and want to have them separated?"
"Haha."
Jang Ilso gave a short laugh.
"Don't be so angry. We're already pretty close, aren't we?"
The Five Swords gritted their teeth. However, Chung Myung only rebuked him coldly without changing his expression.
"I'm sorry, but I wish you could understand my position a little. Just breathing the same air as someone like you makes me feel sick."
"That's a little disappointing."
"So, put aside the nonsense and tell me what you want to say."
Jang Ilso's smile deepened. Everyone unconsciously bit their lips at the strange atmosphere.
Against the dark night, Jang Ilso's presence in red was incredible—more intense than any other appearance they had ever seen from him.
"Do you know the situation?"
"Thanks to someone who kindly shared it."
Jang Ilso shrugged exaggeratedly at Chung Myung's words.
"That is quite a headache."
Chung Myung remained silent, but Baek Cheon finally couldn't hold back his raging anger.
"You were so great, but you came all this way because you couldn't handle a single Demonic Cult? Seems like even the Four Sects Alliance isn't that great."
The Five Swords looked at Baek Cheon with surprise. Their anger toward Jang Ilso was probably different, but they couldn't bring themselves to sneer at him.
However, Baek Cheon didn't seem overwhelmed by Jang Ilso's presence.
No, maybe he was overwhelmed and rebelling. Baek Cheon was originally like that.
"… tsk, tsk."
Jang Ilso looked at Baek Cheon with a displeased expression, then turned his gaze to Chung Myung.
"The kids of Mount Hua are really ill-mannered. They interrupt adults when they're talking. Shouldn't they be scolded a little?"
"You don't seem to know much."
"Uh?"
"In Mount Hua, they only teach people who are worthy of politeness."
"…."
"Instead of being polite to you, I'd be polite to a passing dog."
"Hmm. That sounds like I'm worse than a dog."
"You seem to understand that right."
Jang Ilso smiled with the corners of his mouth raised. Baek Cheon unconsciously tightened his grip on his sword.
However, Jang Ilso soon shrugged as if it was nothing.
"The noble sect members are so classy when it comes to insults. How dare you hold me in such high esteem."
"…."
"Honestly, I'm a little touched."
"It's a bit too much."
The smiles on the two men's lips deepened, but their eyes glared at each other like sharp blades.
"I can't handle even one Demonic Cult…."
Jang Ilso repeated Baek Cheon's earlier words, sighed exaggeratedly, and lowered his eyes.
"Well… it isn't wrong. That's true. But…"
He glared at Chung Myung and Baek Cheon with cold eyes.
"You should know, when I can't handle the Demonic Cult, we won't be the only ones burning in that fire. That fire… will burn down the entire Central Plains—across the Yangtze River, Hunan, and Shaanxi."
"Don't talk nonsense and just get to the point. What do you want?"
At Chung Myung's question, the smile on Jang Ilso's lips grew ominously dark.
"I don't need much. One sword is enough."
"Sword?"
Jang Ilso nodded slowly.
"It's hard to explain, but I think my sword won't work on those people."
Chung Myung's face hardened slightly.
"Then I have no choice. Even if it's unfamiliar and dangerous, I have to borrow a sharp sword. I will stab that insane high priest or whatever in the neck…."
Jang Ilso narrowed his eyes and stared at Chung Myung.
"A very sharp sword."
Chung Myung's expression turned cold.
He had expected Jang Ilso to come to him for help.
Because he was from the Evil Sect.
If he were from an ordinary sect, they would have tried to do something about it. However, if the high priest really appeared as Jang Ilso said—if that high priest was the 'real' high priest Chung Myung knew—the high priest would never be able to catch him.
Because a man with great Demonic Arts can tear down the Evil Sect's martial arts.
If the Justice faction sects symbolize harmony and the Evil Sect symbolizes desire, then the cult symbolizes nothing more than malice.
Not malice toward the Evil Sect, but malice toward humans.
Even Chung Myung had a hard time understanding the principle, but anyway, the Demonic Cult suppresses ordinary martial arts and prevents them from exerting their power.
In the past, they learned that fact through countless fierce battles.
However…
'You've never faced him directly, but you only figured it out through interference….'
He didn't want to admit it, but Jang Ilso was truly creepy.
But what was scarier was not the head that had figured it out, but the determination to head across the river without a single doubt about his own thoughts.
"A sharp sword…."
Chung Myung, deep in thought, revealed his teeth.
"I don't know if that stupid Evil Sect guy will understand, but a famous sword requires qualification from the one who wields it."
"Uh?"
"You're not qualified to wield a famous sword."
"Well. What do you think?"
Jang Ilso chuckled. Then, all of a sudden, the laughter vanished.
"Let's stop the absurd stuff here, Mount Hua's Sword Saint."
"…."
"I need you to cut off that insane bastard's head. The longer you delay, the worse the situation will get. The sooner you decide, the better."
"Do you think I'd join hands with someone like you?"
"No. No, that isn't it, Mount Hua's Sword Saint."
Jang Ilso shook his head.
"This isn't about joining hands. You're dealing with the high priest in your own way, and I'm dealing with him in mine."
"…."
"You haven't forgotten, have you? That you owe me your life?"
Chung Myung gritted his teeth softly. Jang Ilso's shoulders shook as if he was holding back laughter.
"Why? Are you going to pretend you never owed me once, for those worthless Evil Sect people?"
Chung Myung glared at Jang Ilso with cold eyes.
"If that's true?"
"Uh?"
When Jang Ilso tilted his head, Chung Myung calmly said,
"What will you do if I tell you I don't owe you anything? Are you going to get on your knees and beg me?"
"Knees? Hahahahahahah!"
Jang Ilso suddenly burst into laughter.
His laughter mixed with qi shook the Yangtze River. The Five Swords staggered for a moment as if struck.
"Knees? Knees? This Jang Ilso? Hahahahahaha!"
Jang Ilso laughed as if about to shed tears. The gorgeous ornaments on him swayed and rang loudly. It was a strangely eerie sight.
After laughing in disbelief for a while, Jang Ilso looked at Chung Myung. His eyes were hard to read. His slightly reddened eyes shone ominously against his bloodless white skin.
"Right. Are you telling me to kneel down and beg?"
"…."
"Right."
Chung Myung's face hardened. Jang Ilso smiled even more calmly.
"If you want me to, I will."
Step.
Jang Ilso took a step closer to Chung Myung.
"I will kneel."
Another step.
"Bow my head and bury it in the ground."
The distance between Chung Myung and Jang Ilso became close enough to touch.
"If you need me to do more…"
Soon, Jang Ilso, now very close to Chung Myung, whispered in a voice filled with strange fervor.
"Lick those shoes and beg. Please help me. Please. Please."
Baek Cheon, who had been staring at the whole scene as if possessed, took a step back without realizing it.
It felt like the hair on his entire body stood on end.
He understood in his head that all those actions were Jang Ilso's unique way of exaggerating. However, understanding didn't mean he could accept it. Just hearing that voice made him feel as if a cold snake was slithering across his body.
'What the hell is that guy…'
Step.
Jang Ilso took another step closer and looked down at Chung Myung's face.
"If you want, I will do it for you. Is that enough?"
At that moment,
Chung Myung reached out, grabbed Jang Ilso by the collar, and pulled him down. Jang Ilso's body bent forward, and their eyes met at the same level.
Chung Myung, staring into Jang Ilso's eyes, growled.
"Listen carefully, you damn brat."
"…."
"I don't care about debt. I was going to go on my own without you asking for help. So know this clearly: neither I nor Mount Hua are moving because of you."
Thud!
Chung Myung pushed Jang Ilso's chest. Jang Ilso staggered back a couple of steps and snickered.
"Of course you are."
"Get ready. You'll have a hard time handling all of us."
"Of course…."
Jang Ilso, about to nod mockingly, paused for a moment. Then he looked at Chung Myung with confused eyes.
"Us?"
"Yes, us."
"…."
"You said it was needed, right? The sword to cut off the high priest's neck."
"… Yes."
"These people…"
Chung Myung gestured to those standing behind him.
"That is the sword."
Baek Cheon heard the words clearly and clenched his fist without realizing it.
"… They don't look particularly sharp."
"You can look forward to that."
Chung Myung smiled, showing his teeth.
"I forged it myself. It's sharp enough to cut off the high priest's neck—and even yours someday."
"… That's something I'm really looking forward to."
Jang Ilso looked at the Five Swords with a new expression. He smiled strangely, his meaning hard to guess, and after a while, slowly turned around as if his business was done.
"We'll be leaving at dawn."
"…."
"Then… let us meet again, kids of the justice faction."
Jang Ilso walked away from them, moving slowly as he had come.