"Hahahahahahaha!"
One man burst into mad laughter, while another bowed his head in despair before him. There could be no clearer scene dividing the victor and the defeated.
In any situation, the world's gaze ultimately follows the victor. But at this moment, what caught the eyes of those present was not the maniacally laughing Jang Ilso, but the Ten Thousand People Clan leader, Desolate Gold Elder, who slumped his shoulders before him.
Desolate Gold Elder Gong Yawol—the lord of the Black Ghost Fortress who completely controls the west of the South River lands, one of the leaders of the Shenzhou Five Clans and a sword master representing the Evil Sects.
A name that once brilliantly decorated the murim world was collapsing. The glory and fear once contained in that name would remain only as faded memories. After all, the murim world is such a place.
Desolate Gold Elder slowly raised his head and looked at Jang Ilso, who was looking down on him. His eyes no longer held resentment or anger. Even regret was denied; all that remained was mere questioning.
"…From the beginning."
His mouth opened, and a hoarse voice escaped.
"Did you know from the start?"
"Of course."
"…How?"
Jang Ilso snorted with laughter, as if it was a ridiculous question.
"That's such an obvious question."
His voice was too cold to be generosity from a victor, and too sharp to be sympathy for the defeated.
"Because you are the Desolate Gold Elder."
"…"
"Do you need any other reason to be wary?"
It was hardly an answer, but upon hearing it, Desolate Gold Elder simply accepted it.
"…Yes."
Desolate Gold Elder laughed hollowly.
"No further reason was necessary…"
If the opponent shows a weakness, you stab it. That is only natural for the Evil Sect, and even more so for Desolate Gold Elder. Looking back, it was such a simple matter…
"…Was it a trap set from the start?"
"No way."
Jang Ilso sneered.
"Even I couldn't have predicted those Cult bastards running wild."
"From then on…"
Desolate Gold Elder looked at Jang Ilso with hollow eyes.
"How did you summon Thousand Faced Scholar?"
That was the last question remaining for Desolate Gold Elder.
Even if Jang Ilso had anticipated all this, if Thousand Faced Scholar had not come here personally, such a humiliating defeat would not have occurred.
He was extremely cautious. He repeatedly checked if Jang Ilso had hidden forces from the Ten Thousand People Clan, and approached carefully, as if testing a stone bridge, to see if Jang Ilso had any reserves left.
But he never imagined that Thousand Faced Scholar of the Lower District Sect had already arrived here. After all, wasn't Thousand Faced Scholar the most uncooperative towards Jang Ilso?
Jang Ilso slightly turned his head and looked at Thousand Faced Scholar in his guise.
"Since you're asking so earnestly, I should at least answer."
"It's not a difficult matter, Alliance lord."
Thousand Faced Scholar replied. His voice was clear and firm, though not excessive. He looked down on Desolate Gold Elder with cold eyes, very different from when he looked at Jang Ilso.
Desolate Gold Elder bit his lip tightly. Even though he knew the man was not Wei Chung, he still couldn't distinguish him by appearance alone. Without that icy gaze, he might have believed Wei Chung had betrayed him.
"I was uncooperative with Alliance lord… so why am I here?"
Thousand Faced Scholar slowly shook his head.
"That's a foolish question, Desolate Gold Elder. Someone like you surely knows. Nothing lasts forever in this murim world, whether it is an enemy or friend."
He laughed heartily.
"And isn't it you, Desolate Gold Elder, who pushed me—who had no intention to cooperate with Alliance Lord—into this situation?"
"…Me?"
"Didn't both you and the Black Dragon King lose an arm?"
"…"
"Until then, I could just keep a low profile. But the moment you two lost your former prestige, my position became difficult."
Thousand Faced Scholar clicked his tongue as if increasingly frustrated.
"The Four Sects Alliance revolves around the four sects ruling the Southern lands. If two lose power, Alliance lord's attention turns to whom? So I had no choice: either oppose Alliance lord, who will now watch me most closely… or pledge loyalty."
Thousand Faced Scholar slowly shrugged.
"In such circumstances, when Alliance lord personally calls me and offers a seat beside him, what else can I do? Knowing my shortcomings, I must pledge loyalty to him."
"Inside you…"
Desolate Gold Elder, who had been biting his lips, asked with a heart as if spitting blood.
"Was there really nothing inside you? If only you could kill Jang Ilso, you could have stood at the top of the Four Sects Alliance."
This was the part he understood least.
Even if Thousand Faced Scholar came here with that intention, Jang Ilso's life was clearly hanging by a thread. If he were Thousand Faced Scholar, he would have waited until Jang Ilso died, then ambushed Desolate Gold Elder.
Desolate Gold Elder's fate could not have been changed from the moment he entered here, but at least then, taking Jang Ilso along to the afterlife might have been possible.
"Of course it was inside me. It would be a lie if I said I wasn't tormented by that temptation."
Even with Jang Ilso right in front of him, Thousand Faced Scholar spoke openly about his inner conflict over Jang Ilso's life. Jang Ilso showed no displeasure at all.
"Then why…?"
"If my greed was greater than yours, does that make sense?"
Desolate Gold Elder looked at Thousand Faced Scholar with eyes full of confusion.
"Sorry, but I have no desire to return to the days when we bickered among ourselves in the Southern Lands. I've already seen that not only this barren land, but also the fertile lands are not just pipe dreams."
"That can never be yours!"
"Is that a problem?"
Thousand Faced Scholar retorted calmly.
"I'd rather aim for the position of one under heaven and above all men than remain a ruler of a remote backwater. It's neither special nor strange."
His gaze turned back to Jang Ilso.
"Besides, the Lower District sect was never meant to be at the top from the start. Information only has meaning when there is someone to use it."
"…Heh heh."
Desolate Gold Elder, quietly listening, laughed bitterly. Thousand Faced Scholar was merely stating his position, but to Desolate Gold Elder, all those words sounded like reproach for his unworthy greed that brought disaster upon himself.
As if understanding his feelings, Thousand Faced Scholar smiled faintly and added words that need not have been said.
"And there was another, most decisive reason."
"…a reason?"
"If someone must be placed above all… it shouldn't be you. My pride won't allow it."
"…"
"Perhaps that is the greatest reason."
Desolate Gold Elder bit his lip. The true reason why Thousand Faced Scholar sided with Jang Ilso is unknown and likely will remain so. Human hearts are fickle; fully understanding someone's intentions is impossible.
But regardless, Jang Ilso accomplished what Desolate Gold Elder could not. That was the decisive difference in their battle.
Desolate Gold Elder's gaze shifted from Thousand Faced Scholar to Jang Ilso.
"Did Mount Hua know as well?"
"No way."
"Then…"
Questions clouded Desolate Gold Elder's eyes again. There were so many things he wanted to ask.
What was that coordinated response then? How could they do that without even a single conversation?
But the following words shattered all of Desolate Gold Elder's doubts at once.
"You still don't understand, Gong Yawol."
Jang Ilso opened his mouth with a full sneer.
"Having such doubts proves you had no right to be in this game. Humans can guess what dogs think, but dogs cannot know what humans think. Understand?"
Those words pierced Desolate Gold Elder's very core more than anything he'd heard before. They denied everything about him.
All that remained for him was a proud defeat. But now, Jang Ilso's few words even stole his last pride.
"Is that so… From the start… I had no right."
Resigned to everything, Desolate Gold Elder finally turned his gaze toward the Black Ghost Fortress where they stood.
Though they were his subordinates raised like his own limbs, no one now rushed to save him. They just blankly watched what was happening here.
This was a scene he had seen countless times before.
The only difference was that Desolate Gold Elder, who had always stood in Jang Ilso's place, was now sitting in the place of those he had killed.
What difference does it make? Yes… that's all there is.
"…Kill him."
"…"
"Ending the life of the defeated is the victor's right. I admit defeat. Kill me, Jang Ilso."
Desolate Gold Elder closed his eyes. Jang Ilso slowly bowed his body and looked at him. His long eyes narrowed slightly.
Desolate Gold Elder had driven Jang Ilso to the brink of death. Had he taken one more step, his blade might have pierced Jang Ilso's heart. Though he lost, he was worthy of recognition.
Yet at this moment, he let go of all regrets. Though what was in his hands slipped away, he accepted it calmly without resistance.
"Impressive."
Jang Ilso nodded as if admiring.
"Indeed, Desolate Gold Elder."
Then he lightly touched Desolate Gold Elder's shoulder. Desolate Gold Elder flinched slightly at the touch.
"I cannot help but acknowledge that, Gong Yawol, you are different from the riffraff you've seen so far."
At those words, Desolate Gold Elder slowly opened his eyes and met Jang Ilso's gaze. Seeing the strange curve in his eyes, a faint hope stirred deep in his heart. Perhaps…
"So…"
In that moment, Jang Ilso's face twisted cruelly.
"I don't like it."
Jang Ilso's hand suddenly grabbed Desolate Gold Elder's face. From his fingers piercing the skull, a chilling qi like the northern sea's cold wind surged.
"Kk… Kyaaaah!"
The sudden invading qi made Desolate Gold Elder scream in agony. Madness gleamed in Jang Ilso's eyes as he looked down.
"Yes… this is how it should be. This is death, Gong Yawol. If you lose a life-risking gamble, you must die dirty and miserable. Don't go spouting noble words, okay?"
"Kk… krrk… krrk…"
Dark red blood dripped from Desolate Gold Elder's mouth. His limp limbs convulsed. Just by looking, one could tell how immense his pain was.
"Why? Did you harbor hope for a moment?"
"Krrrk…"
"You must understand clearly, Gong Yawol. For people like us, there is no such thing as a good death. Either live as a demon or die dirty and miserable. There are only these two options. You knew that, didn't you?"
A ferocious aura swirled in Jang Ilso's eyes.
"So… don't be too resentful."
Crack!
Finally, Desolate Gold Elder's head exploded.
The headless corpse collapsed lifelessly. Who would recall Desolate Gold Elder, lord of the Black Ghost Fortress and leader of the Shenzhou Five Clans, who once roamed the world?
Jang Ilso quietly murmured, staring at the red blood staining his hand.
"In the end… the blood shed by humans is all the same. Yours and mine alike."
He shook off his hand and slowly turned his body.
A cold wind from the Southern land region swept mournfully over the chilling corpse of Desolate Gold Elder.
.