Baek Cheon knew that under normal circumstances, he shouldn't speak these words aloud now. Yet, the situation before him made it unbearable to stay silent. Eventually, he opened his mouth in a daze.
"What… is going on?"
Though Baek Cheon voiced the question, it was a sentiment shared by all the disciples of Mount Hua. Without understanding the nature of the Evil Sect, they couldn't grasp why the Black Ghost Fortress suddenly showed no hostility toward Jang Ilso, nor why his subordinate had ambushed the leader of the Ten Thousand People Clan.
Moreover, the men from the Black Ghost Fortress still surrounding them blocked their view of what was happening beyond. It was inevitable that they struggled to comprehend the unfolding events.
Fortunately, beside them stood a man from the Evil Sect who understood the entire situation and could explain it.
"Hmm."
Im So-Byeong gently waved the fan he had opened and began to speak.
"It seems that Thousand Faced Scholar has sided with Jang Ilso."
"…Thousand Faced Scholar?"
Baek Cheon blinked and looked toward Jang Ilso. The cold corpse of the Ten Thousand People Clan leader and his subordinate standing before him…
"So it's not that the Ten Thousand People Clan's subordinate betrayed him, but that the person is Thousand Faced Scholar, the sect leader of the Lower District Sect?"
"That seems to be the case."
Im So-Byeong shrugged his shoulders.
"Thousand Faced Scholar's reverse transformation technique is unrivaled in the world; no one can recognize his disguise. Truly, the reputation is well-deserved. I never thought even the Ten Thousand People Clan leader wouldn't notice his own subordinate had changed."
Though his tone was calm, Im So-Byeong was quite surprised himself.
"Chilling."
If the Ten Thousand People Clan leader didn't notice, it meant Im So-Byeong was at equal risk.
Of course, the Ten Thousand People Clan leader had an excuse. When on the verge of killing a tiger, who could notice a rabbit sneaking behind was different from usual?
"But such situations happen countless times in the murim world."
Im So-Byeong realized anew how useful that incredible reverse transformation was. Of course, Thousand Faced Scholar had to risk his life to use it, so it wasn't a move employed lightly.
"…So Jang Ilso hid Thousand Faced Scholar from the start and led the situation this way?"
"That seems to be the case."
Baek Cheon was momentarily dumbfounded and stared at Jang Ilso in disbelief.
"What kind of person is that…"
Baek Cheon and the other Mount Hua disciples were now prepared to be surprised by anything Jang Ilso did. Hadn't they already experienced enough to know how far beyond common sense he was?
Still, at this moment, they couldn't help but wonder what was inside Jang Ilso's mind.
"Ah, no. Then…"
Yoon Jong turned to Im So-Byeong with a surprised expression.
"Did the Green Forest King know about this too?"
At those words, Jo Gul tilted his head in confusion.
"What do you mean all of a sudden, sahyung?"
"No… the situation earlier… it seemed like the Green Forest King was coordinating with Jang Ilso, didn't it?"
"Now that you mention it…"
Jo Geol, Yoon Jong, and Baek Cheon all turned to look at Im So-Byeong simultaneously. Receiving their gaze, Im So-Byeong twitched his mouth slightly, then fully opened his fan and half-covered his face.
"Hahaha."
"…"
"That's only natural. No matter how great Jang Ilso is, in terms of strategy, he can't possibly match me!"
'Didn't know.'
'Didn't know.'
'Such bravado.'
As the three narrowed their eyes simultaneously, Im So-Byeong clicked his tongue.
"I thought Jang Ilso had prepared something, but I didn't expect it to be Thousand Faced Scholar."
"…"
"…Why are you looking at me like that? Just guessing that guy prepared something should earn praise, shouldn't it? Jo Gul, Yoon Jong?"
No answer came back.
Baek Cheon sighed deeply. Honestly, in this situation, he couldn't figure out whom to admire: Jang Ilso, who orchestrated everything while hiding Thousand Faced Scholar, or Im So-Byeong, who coordinated without knowing what Jang Ilso had concealed.
'Right, this guy was the Green Forest King.'
Suddenly, it hit him. He had always seen him as weak and foolish, but this man led the Green Forest and fought fierce battles against the Ten Thousand People Clan. Considering the power difference between the Green Forest and the Ten Thousand People Clan he knew, Baek Cheon couldn't help but realize how remarkable Im So-Byeong was.
"Is this the strategy of those who vie for supremacy in the world?"
Somehow, it felt like a different world from the one he lived in.
"…But why is the Black Ghost Fortress just watching this?"
When Namgung Do-Wei asked curiously, Im So-Byeong shrugged.
"The cleanup is finished."
"The cleanup is finished?"
"Yes."
Namgung Do-Wei seemed to not understand the words at all. Im So-Byeong tapped his head with his fan. It seemed more explanation was needed for these Justice faction members.
"So, let's think. Mount Hua fought the Wudang, and the sect leader Hyun Jong was killed by the Wudang sect leader elder Heo Do. What would you do?"
"Those Wudang bastards would all die that day."
"We would never let it go!"
"We'd set Wudang Mountain on fire and stab anyone fleeing in the back!"
"…"
"…"
Jo Gul, who shouted last, flinched as he sensed the gaze directed at him.
"Why, why? Did I say something wrong…?"
"…Is he even human?"
"His personality…"
"Even Chung Myung would be surprised at this level."
"No! That last comment is a bit harsh!"
Jo Gul felt deeply wronged by the last comment, but fortunately or unfortunately, Im So-Byeong diverted the attention away from him.
"Yes. That's the Justice faction's way of thinking. But in the Evil Sect, such things don't happen. They simply don't have that level of loyalty."
And this is also an environmental issue inherent to the Evil Sect.
Unlike the Justice faction, which maintains face, the Evil Sect lives amid constant conflicts. If they fought wars until one side was completely annihilated every time, the Evil Sect itself couldn't survive.
Of course, the Mount Hua disciples knew this fact too. But knowing it intellectually and witnessing it firsthand were worlds apart.
"So this…"
Jo Gul said as if he couldn't understand at all.
"Isn't this like losing to Southern Edge and becoming Southern Edge's disciple from that day on?"
"You bastard! Even if you use an analogy…"
"Don't spout such nonsense! Are you crazy?"
"I feel like throwing up."
Just thinking about it made their stomachs churn. For those who felt belonging to Mount Hua, such a thing could never happen even if heaven and earth turned upside down.
But those people accepted such a situation without fuss. They might feel differently inside, but at least there was no visible resistance.
'How can they be like that?'
No matter how much the Evil Sect values profit as their principle, how could they just stand by and watch their leader's head get blown off?
Though he didn't want to think about it, if Hyun Jong were going through this now, the Mount Hua disciples here would have already lost reason and done anything to kill Jang Ilso.
"…Is this the difference between the Evil Sect and the Justice faction?"
He felt the gap was greater than he had thought.
It's not just that they belong to different places. Their dispositions and ways of thinking are all different. That's why they can't mix. Like water and oil.
Baek Cheon looked at Im So-Byeong as if he had remembered something.
"Then, Jang Ilso's actions just now as well?"
"You saw it exactly right."
Im So-Byeong slowly nodded.
"For the Evil Sect, 'winning' is important, but even more important is 'being stronger.' If Jang Ilso had only won through strategy without showing his presence, he wouldn't have so easily gained the submission of others like that."
"As expected…"
"It seems simple, but on the other hand, it's complicated too. The most important thing is to prove in some way that one is worth following. It was a risky move, but the result is… as you see."
That means when Thousand Faced Scholar ambushed the Ten Thousand People Clan leader, Jang Ilso was already planning the next move. At that point, what mattered to him was not finishing off the Ten Thousand People Clan leader, but completely devouring the Black Ghost Fortress, whose master would disappear.
Baek Cheon glared at Jang Ilso with a stern face.
'Now, at least in the Evil Sect, there is truly no one to rival Jang Ilso.'
Jang Ilso was originally the leader of the Four Sects Alliance.
But as seen in the recent Yangtze River incident, Jang Ilso had not completely controlled the Four Sects Alliance. At least the Black Ghost Fortress and Lower District Sect did not obediently follow him.
But now, such things would no longer happen.
Jang Ilso had already devoured the Pirates at the Yangtze River, and now here, he had taken control of the Black Ghost Fortress. Even Thousand Faced Scholar swore loyalty to him.
This meant only one thing.
Complete Evil Sects Unification.
That seemingly impossible feat was finally achieved at this moment. Perhaps the Mount Hua disciples were witnessing a historic moment with their own eyes.
Just as Baek Cheon trembled with an unknown thrill.
"Huh?"
Jo Gul's voice broke the mood and pierced Baek Cheon's ear.
"W-wait a moment, senior disciple. So Jang Ilso has unified the Evil Sect now?"
Baek Cheon frowned.
"What are you late to realize…"
"Ah, no. It's not that."
"…What now?"
"That means all these guys here have become Jang Ilso's subordinates, right?"
"What obvious nonsense are you suddenly saying…"
Baek Cheon was about to speak but suddenly closed his mouth. His gaze at Jo Gul blurred. After a moment, he creaked his neck and turned aside. He saw the Black Ghost Fortress slowly turning toward them.
Jo Geol's voice, full of fear, was heard.
"Then…"
"…"
"Are we… screwed now?"
They saw the Black Ghost Fortress glaring at them with sharp eyes—no, now they should just be called the Evil Sect Union. Behind that curtain of faces, Jang Ilso was flashing a brilliant and sinister smile.
A hollow laugh escaped Baek Cheon's lips.
"It seems…"
He slowly raised the sword he had lowered.
"…That's how it seems."
Red Dogs, having identified the changed prey, also began creeping toward Mount Hua with a cruel smile on his face.