The furrow between Desolate Gold Elder's brows deepened noticeably.
"What is this?"
The situation was unfolding in a way he hadn't anticipated.
Before setting this stage, he had thoroughly analyzed the sect called Mount Hua. Any sect with even a slight understanding of the murim world would recognize how significant a variable Mount Hua represented.
Because his analysis was so thorough, he believed he had set a perfect trap. In fact, they had fallen right into it. Moreover, they had preserved the elite forces of the Black Ghost Fortress and succeeded in encirclement, so he thought no other variables existed.
But now, Mount Hua's response was completely deviating from what he had expected.
"Is this even possible?"
No way.
Every human has an unchanging disposition. The chooser believes with certainty that they have reached the right conclusion after deep thought, but in reality, most are led not by logic but by their inherent disposition.
The same applies to sects. The disposition of a sect does not change easily, just like that of a person. In fact, because many people gather to reach a single conclusion, the sect's disposition is even more steadfast and difficult to change.
Yet now, Mount Hua was making choices completely opposite to the disposition they had shown so far.
Mount Hua was a sect that, when adversity struck, charged headlong into it. This had not changed at all, whether in the past Black Dragon Pirates or this time at Plum Blossom Island.
But suddenly, they planted their feet firmly and started to hold their ground?
"This is impossible!"
But isn't that impossible thing happening right now? Then there must be a cause.
Desolate Gold Elder soon found the cause without much difficulty.
"The Green Forest King."
Im So-Byeong was fluttering his fan and looking his way. Even from quite a distance, Desolate Gold Elder could clearly feel the unmistakable sneer in his eyes.
Gnashing his teeth harshly, he clenched his jaw.
Even amid the chaotic situation, he calmly grasped the opponent's intentions and instantly found a perfect countermeasure. If anyone could do that there now, it would surely be Im So-Byeong.
Im So-Byeong was the one who, even against Jang Ilso's Ten Thousand People Clan, concealed his actions as much as possible and prolonged the standoff. His personal martial arts skill might be insufficient as a variable, but even Desolate Gold Elder had to acknowledge his military strategy.
Then is the cause of this situation on Desolate Gold Elder, who knew Im So-Byeong was there but failed to prepare a countermeasure?
No one would dare say that.
Think about it. The Justice faction is a place tightly bound by pride in upholding agreements. Therefore, they always find even mentioning the Evil Sect disgusting.
Mount Hua is also worthy of the name of a prestigious sect. For such people to take orders from not just any Evil Sect member but one of the Evil Sect's leaders, the Green Forest King? That is impossible.
From the start, inserting the Green Forest King, an Evil Sect origin, into a small elite group crossing into the south is incomprehensible to any sane person. Who could have guessed that Mount Hua's disciples would follow Im So-Byeong's orders?
"Damn it."
Desolate Gold Elder bit his lip tightly.
"But now, it's meaningless to argue logic."
What was certain was that this absurd event was actually happening before his eyes.
"But it's still okay."
He still held the advantage. It's true things had gotten complicated, but they likely lacked the capacity to break through this encirclement.
Even if a slow war of attrition continued, they would eventually fail and wither away.
However, one more variable was now looming over Desolate Gold Elder. He looked at that variable with a stern face.
"In this situation, to be able to…"
It was Chung Myung, standing in the middle of Mount Hua's formation with his eyes closed.
Cultivating qi is fundamentally dangerous, as even minor shocks can cause possession by demons. Therefore, it must be done in a safe place.
But that madman was calmly cultivating qi right in the heart of a life-and-death battlefield. Even with nerves tougher than a whale's tendon, no one could attempt that. Such people could only be called lunatics.
The problem was that this lunatic's actions were tightening the noose around Desolate Gold Elder's neck.
"…How long will it take?"
Complete recovery was impossible. Even the one cultivating qi wouldn't expect that. But how long until he recovered enough to wield a sword and fight again?
"An hour? Or two?"
He couldn't calculate it.
Desolate Gold Elder, glaring at Chung Myung with murderous eyes, flinched and opened his hand. His palm was already damp with sweat.
"…Am I being cornered? In a situation like this, no less?"
Desolate Gold Elder's face began to contort more and more.
Chung Myung's power was certainly threatening.
Even assuming full recovery was difficult, he was the one who defeated Dan Ja-Kang. Desolate Gold Elder knew well how monstrous Dan Ja-Kang was; his lost arm still ached at the thought of it.
If Chung Myung joined the battlefield with even partial strength restored, he could not guarantee his people surviving this encirclement.
"I must finish it before then."
Desolate Gold Elder unknowingly stepped forward. It was an unconscious act, even though he clearly knew he should observe the situation from further back.
About to order a full offensive, Desolate Gold Elder forced back his words and bit his lip tightly.
"Press harder. Give them no breathing room!"
"Yes!"
Desolate Gold Elder absentmindedly tapped his thigh with his limp fingers. The movement looked like he was flicking abacus beads.
Across the fiercely contested battlefield, Im So-Byeong watched Desolate Gold Elder's movements without missing a single one.
"Hmm."
Jang Ilso's gaze, fixed on Desolate Gold Elder, slowly shifted to Im So-Byeong.
Im So-Byeong, with the fan open, looked around with eyes chillingly cold and calm.
"The Green Forest King."
Jang Ilso's eyes briefly grew eerie.
Before the name Four Sects Alliance existed, the one Jang Ilso most feared was not the Black Dragon King, Desolate Gold Elder, or Thousand Faced Scholar, but the Green Forest King, Im So-Byeong.
Was it because the Green Forest was strong? Because Im So-Byeong was outstanding?
Not at all.
Because devouring them was the most urgent task.
To him, the Green Forest King was like a chess player playing without chariots or cannons. The Green Forest bandits were numerous but a half-baked sect lacking skilled warriors.
Moreover, the Green Forest couldn't even properly utilize those numbers. Gathering the Green Forest disciples scattered across the mountains, supplying their consumption, and maintaining formation was impossible.
A place large in size but unable to concentrate power properly, lacking a main force. What more appetizing prey could there be?
But Im So-Byeong led that Green Forest and withstood the Ten Thousand People Clan's assault.
Maintaining a long front line while avoiding direct clashes as much as possible, he used the lack of a main force as an advantage, hiding his and the Green Forest's traces to prevent giving targets.
Im So-Byeong endlessly repeated this strategy-less tactic, minimizing Green Forest's losses.
The more so, the firmer Jang Ilso's resolve became: to eliminate the Green Forest as soon as possible, before Im So-Byeong gained a usable trump card.
But…
"I never imagined he would get that card from somewhere other than the Evil Sect."
Though it may seem out of place, Im So-Byeong looking excited was not just Jang Ilso's illusion. He, who always played to maximize numerical advantage, could now do what he wanted from the opposite position for the first time.
"Hmm."
Jang Ilso looked at Im So-Byeong with a strange gaze.
"Moreover…"
Having taken in Im So-Byeong's response and Mount Hua's formation at a glance, Jang Ilso twisted a smile. The revealed one was as threatening as a beast's fangs.
"You read people well. Still, as always."
Jang Ilso murmured softly and spoke to Ho Ga-Myung standing beside him.
"Ga-Myung."
"Yes, Alliance lord."
"We need to change the plan."
Ho Ga-Myung looked back at Jang Ilso with questioning eyes.
"We need to coordinate the rhythm a bit."
Seeing the sly smile on Jang Ilso's face, Ho Ga-Myung's gaze momentarily turned toward Mount Hua.
"Well… that can't be imitated."
Those biting the enemies. If they stayed put like Mount Hua's disciples now, they couldn't exert their strength. That's only possible for Mount Hua. But even in this situation, there was a way to fully unleash the Red Dog's power.
"We need to change the biters a bit. Deal with those targeting Mount Hua first."
"Then Alliance lord will be in danger."
"Tsk."
Jang Ilso clicked his tongue in displeasure. This was why, despite trusting Ho Ga-Myung greatly, he could not entrust him with full authority.
"To catch a big fish like Desolate Gold Elder, I must offer my life as bait, shouldn't I?"
"But…"
Ho Ga-Myung glanced at Jang Ilso's expression and finally nodded.
"Understood, Alliance Lord."
As soon as Ho Ga-Myung gave the order, the Red Dog's gaze turned simultaneously. The reaction was chillingly fast and perfect.
Jang Ilso's eyes traced a strange arc.
"Now, Desolate Gold Elder…"
Jang Ilso chuckled.
"Did you calculate this situation?"
Can you flick those proud abacus beads and dominate here?
One who sees people only as numbers.
One who knows better than anyone the illusions numbers hold.
One who does not hesitate to use any move if it means winning.
And…
Ho Ga-Myung's gaze turned to Chung Myung, who was cultivating qi.
"Even that lunatic who controls and shakes everyone just by closing his eyes is in this place."
What Desolate Gold Elder must handle was a hell where monsters ruling the murim world were tangled, biting each other in endless succession.
If he managed this situation, he would catch big fish one after another: Jang Ilso, Chung Myung, and Im So-Byeong.
But if he made a mistake? The outcome was obvious.
Desolate Gold Elder's face gradually stiffened. In contrast, Jang Ilso's face brightened with a wider smile.
"This is probably your first time, isn't it?"
Someone who never wanted to suffer a loss would never have gambled their entire life like this.
Jang Ilso stepped forward a few more steps toward the elite Black Ghost Fortress charging at him, as if tempting the attacking hunters.
"Come now, the neck you desire is right here. Hurry up and come."
Seeing Jang Ilso exposing his neck wide open and approaching, the elite Black Ghost Fortress's eyes began to glitter. The opportunity to claim the tremendous achievement of 'the one who cut Jang Ilso's neck' was right before them.
The elite Black Ghost Fortress rolled their eyes and charged forward. Witnessing that clear gap, Jang Ilso let out a sinister laugh.
"That's right, just like that."
At that moment, his eyes emitted a wicked light.