Chapter 1074
The hand burrowing into his side pushed deeper.
“Keeuuuuaaaaaaak!”
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold screamed as if he was going to vomit blood at any moment due to the unbearable pain. However, what pained him the most wasn’t the hand of Thousand-Faced Gentleman digging into his side, nor the internal energy flowing from it wreaking havoc throughout his body.
It was this situation itself that he couldn’t understand at all.
‘H…ow…?’
Why is Thousand-Faced Gentleman here? How on earth?
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Wei Chung, or rather, Thousand-Faced Gentleman, who plunged his hand into Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s side, clicked his tongue as if it was pathetic.
“You must have bouncing the abacus wrong, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold.”
“Kkeuk….”
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s body was shaking as if he was suffering from a fever. Then, Thousand-Faced Gentleman, in the guise of Wei Chung, smiled triumphantly.
“…You are definitely a great swordsman, to the point of admiration.”
Those words contained both recognition and ridicule toward Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold.
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold was certainly holding his sword in his left hand. However, the moment he sensed the presence of Thousand-Faced Gentleman coming towards him from the right, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold unknowingly moved the non-existent right hand, pulled out his sword, and tried to swing it.
Even though his head knew that his right hand no longer existed, his body, which he had trained his whole life, repeated the most familiar action at the most dangerous moment.
“Cough….”
Thousand-Faced Gentleman let out a bitter smile.
Even targeting that fact for his attack, the moment Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s right shoulder twitched, a chill ran down his spine. Certainly, the reputation of Evil Sects’s Number One Sword was not earned for nothing.
But…
“What a pitiful state the ‘Number One Sword of Evil Sects’ has come to.”
Thousand-Faced Gentleman playfully twisted his wrist as if mocking him.
Udeudeudeuk.
“Keuaaaaaak!”
At the same time, a helpless scream escaped Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s mouth.
“Gre- Great Master!”
“You son of a beast!”
In a situation like a lightning strike unfolding behind them, the elites of Black Ghost Fortress who were pushing Mount Hua and Myriad Man Manor put aside the fight and looked back. And with all the murderous intent they could muster, they glared at Thousand-Faced Gentleman and growled.
“No, no.”
However, despite the pouring of murderous intent, Thousand-Faced Gentleman leisurely shook his hand still embedded in Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s side.
“Keuh…. Keuugh….”
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s complexion was no longer pale white, but ghastly blue. Blood frothed from his mouth.
“If you don’t want to see your leader’s heart burst, perhaps you should disperse and retreat?”
The mocking voice of Thousand-Faced Gentleman clearly pierced everyone’s ears. All trembling gazes turned to Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, who was screaming.
“Di- Disperse… Aaaaaaaaaagh!”
The words that Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold was about to say were soon covered by agonizing screams. The complexions of Black Ghost Fortress elites turned white.
They knew they had to save Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold.
But how could they possibly save him when the enemy had a death grip in his side? Moreover, the person holding the leash of Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold is no one else, but the leader of Hao Sect, Thousand-Faced Gentleman.
Wouldn’t it be easier to rescue a rabbit from the tiger’s maw?
Or should they heed Thousand-Faced Gentleman’s words, disperse, and retreat?
Even if they did, would that save Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s life? Would Thousand-Faced Gentleman really let Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold go so easily?
In a situation where they could not do either this or that, the elites of Black Ghost Fortress were confused and agonized. At that time, a sinister voice passed through their ear, as if a snake was threatening them.
“What are you pondering?”
The gaze of those who had been fixated on Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold and Thousand-Faced Gentleman suddenly turned back. No matter what anyone says, he’s the most dangerous individual present.
“Loyalty is…”
Jang Ilso. He drew all the attention of Black Ghost Fortress and slowly opened his mouth.
“…meant to be kept by those who are alive.”
His red lips traced a smooth curve.
“In your eyes, the man… he still seems alive, does he?”
Everyone trembled at those words.
Alive, yet not truly living. That was Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s current state. And their situation was likely not much different.
Even if they killed Jang Ilso here, there would be no chance that they would be able to withstand the offensive of the enraged Myriad Man Manor and Hao Sect after losing Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold.
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
Step.
Jang Ilso calmly walked forward.
“I’m not so heartless. If you stop here, I won’t hold you accountable. Rather, you will gain more than what you have enjoyed so far under the name of Evil Tyrant Alliance.”
Anyone could see.
Jang Ilso is in no condition to fight right now. Even Paegun of the world, in a situation where he is injured to that extent, is no different from a third-rate martial artist. It is no different from being suicidal to approach the elite of Black Ghost Fortress in such a situation.
But despite everyone knowing this fact, no one dared to attack Jang Ilso.
One step.
Another step.
Jang Ilso approached Black Ghost Fortress with an utterly calm demeanor.
It was Jang Ilso who lost his strength, but now it was Black Ghost Fortress who felt the pressure. Just moments ago, they had been ready to lose their minds and charge at him, but now they could barely breathe.
“If you don’t like that.”
Finally, Jang Ilso, who had reached the distance close enough to be within arm’s reach, whispered with a devilish smile on his face.
“All you have to do is cut off my head right now.”
Step.
The person standing right in front of Jang Ilso raised his gaze with a pale face.
They knew. They could kill Jang Ilso right then if they just decided to. But, frozen in place, they couldn’t bring themselves to stretch out their hand.
Jang Ilso’s red lips curled up as if twisted. His pure white face was stained with his blood, making him appear even more sinister.
“What will you do?”
The elites of Black Ghost Fortress, overwhelmed by Jang Ilso’s presence, unknowingly took a step back. No, perhaps that is the instinctive habit of Evil Sects people who have realized that the tide has already turned.
Jang Ilso smiled so gently that it was out of place on the battlefield. He had a face that seemed to praise them.
“That’s right. You’re a good boy.”
“….”
Step. Step.
Jang Ilso began to walk again. At the same time, the elite Black Ghost Fortress surrounding him gradually retreated to the left and right. The path to Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold began to open in front of Jang Ilso.
‘That… madman…’
Mount Hua’s group clenched their fists as they watched the scene unfold.
The distance between Jang Ilso and the elites of Black Ghost Fortress who are retreating now is only a few steps. In other words, Jang Ilso was calmly walking through the middle of those who, just moments ago, had been desperately trying to take his life.
Even if it’s Paegun, was this really something a sane person could do?
But his slow steps never stopped.
Those standing before him moved aside as if they had seen a ghost, and none dared to rush at him. No, they lowered their head, unable to even make eye contact, let alone lunge at him.
To submit and obey the strong. That was the nature of Evil Sects.
And at this moment, the elites of Black Ghost Fortress must have clearly understood. That the strength they have discussed countless times is not just one’s own physical force or schemes (??(鬼計)) that shake the world.
Strength also meant the very essence of a person.
Ho Gamyeong and Red Dogs quickly followed behind Jang Ilso.
There was no way Black Ghost Fortress, who couldn’t even handle the presence of Jang Ilso, could stand in their way. Those who had been hesitating to retreat were unable to hold on any longer and opened the path wide as if collapsing.
The corner of Jang Ilso’s mouth curled up.
The path opened by Black Ghost Fortress that was blocking the front was like a dark curtain parted. At the end of that path, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, who had his side impaled, was looking at him with a distorted face.
How should one describe the light in his eyes? Distrust? Resignation? Or perhaps hatred?
No, it might be all of them.
Jang Ilso, who passed by Black Ghost Fortress who was overwhelmed by the force and walked on the barren land, finally arrived in front of Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold.
At that moment, Thousand-Faced Gentleman roughly pulled out his hand that was stuck in Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s side.
“Keuheuk!”
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s body collapsed forward.
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, who hit his head on the ground without even thinking about stopping the blood gushing out of his side, trembled like an aspen tree. But anyone watching could tell.
It is not the pain that makes Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold tremble right now.
What dominates him is a deep sense of contempt. And perhaps…
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s jaw trembled as he looked up at Jang Ilso. His bloodshot eyes and Jang Ilso’s chilly gaze met collided in the air.
The thoughts that dominated Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s mind at that moment were somewhat ludicrous.
He wondered if could there possibly be another person in the world who could look down on someone else with such arrogance?
“Hmm.”
At that moment, a sigh-like nasal sound escaped Jang Ilso’s mouth.
Jang Ilso, who was expressionlessly looking down at Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, raised the corners of his lips and asked.
“Who… made a mistake?”
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s body twitched as if struck by lightning.
“No. Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold. Ah, should I say, Gong Yawol?”
Jang Ilso’s sneering smile was clearly reflected in Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s eyes.
“The mistake was not mine, but yours.”
Jang Ilso slowly bent down.
And he thrust his face right in front of Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, who was barely supporting his upper body with his only remaining arm as if it was about to fall to the ground at any moment.
“Really… Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
“Ja… Jang Il…”
“Answer me, Gong Yawol. Did you really believe I wouldn’t know you were coming to tear my throat out? Huh?”
As Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s face became more and more miserably distorted, an expression that was difficult to describe gradually deepened on Jang Ilso’s face. That expression resembled… a demon of hell who takes pleasure in torturing humans.
Jang Ilso stretched out his large hand and grasped Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s face.
Udeudeudeuk.
Jang Ilso gradually increased his grip, as if he was going to burst the head at any moment, and whispered into Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s ear.
“Let me tell you something, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold.”
“….”
“You see.”
It was indeed a soft, sinister voice.
“I never trust someone like you.”
“Ugh…”
“You probably thought you knew everything about other people and calculated everything. But Gong Yawol…. What should I do? It seems like in all your calculations, you forgot to include ‘yourself’. How others truly see you.”
“Jang Il…so…”
Jang Ilso laughed like a demon.
“Doesn’t it seem like your precious abacus has shattered? Huh, Gong Yawol?”
Eventually, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, filled with despair, began to scream loudly.
“Jang Ilsoooooooo!”
“Hahahahaha……”
At last, unable to contain himself, Jang Il-so burst into a manic laughter.
“Hahahahahahat! Hahahahahahat! Hahahahahahahahahat!”
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s cries and Jang Ilso’s manic laughter spread tragically across the silent land.