Return of Mount Hua Sect

Someone was running out of breath. No, to be exact, from the moment this person set foot in the huge hall, it became difficult to breathe in and out.

Hwang Se-Ak was by no means a man with excessive fear. If he had been such a weak person, he would have never created a great sect called the Red Pillar Association in the North of the River, where the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families were running rampant with their eyes wide open.

But his guts and body, which were always as strong as iron, turned infinitely weak the moment he set foot in this hall.

He gulped, adjusted his clothes, and looked around.

The expression “splendid” clearly existed to describe a place like this.

The ceiling and walls were decorated with red and white silk, catching the eye, and everywhere he looked, he could see expensive decorations and elegant porcelain densely placed. Even the pillars that stood tall in the center of the hall were engraved with beautiful patterns in gold.

He couldn’t be sure that the palace where the Emperor resided would be this grand.

But it wasn’t this splendid hall that made Hwang Se-Ak feel intimidated.

Hwang Se-Ak, who carefully walked forward with tension, knelt down on one knee the moment he reached the end of the red silk on the ground.

Then he gulped and slowly raised his head, his gaze climbing the tall stairs in front of him. Finally, his eyes reached the feet of a man sitting on the throne atop the stairs.

He opened his mouth, somehow calming his trembling tone.

“Hwang Se-Ak, the leader of the Red Pillar Association, greets you, Alliance Lord.”

He bowed his head deeply and saw the man sitting on the throne.

This magnificent robe with gold thread embroidery, colorful jewels hanging from his body, pale white skin, and a strange languidness in his form and expression.

If one didn’t know who this person was in front of them after seeing that appearance, they didn’t deserve to live in the current Murim world.

The Alliance Lord of the Four Precepts Alliance.

The Hemeon of Ten Thousand.

‘The Hegemony Lord, Jang Ilso.’

Hwang Se-Ak’s heart began to pound uncontrollably.

When had he first heard the name of Jang Ilso? 15 years ago? Or maybe 10 years ago? He couldn’t exactly remember, but it must have been somewhere around that time.

At first, he was just a notorious warrior in the Guangxi region. But soon, he became famous throughout the southern lands and created a force called the Ten Thousand People Clan, ascending to the position of clan leader.

It wasn’t long before the excessive praise of the Shenzhou Five Clans was joined by that of the Ten Thousand People Clan…

‘The leader of the Four Precepts Alliance.’

He could say with certainty that Jang Ilso was the only one in the world who raised his status to such a degree in such a short duration.

“Hmm.”

The moment a faint nasal sound escaped from Jang Ilso’s mouth, Hwang Se-Ak flinched and crouched down as much as he could. He couldn’t even bring himself to face Jang Ilso.

Three years ago, Jang Ilso, who was the leader of the Ten Thousand People Clan, was someone he could never face. But the current Jang Ilso was incomparable to the past.

In just three years.

In just those three years, Jang Ilso subjugated the southern lands’ sects under his own. He killed all those who resisted and stabbed those who ran away with the sword.

He had finally achieved the absurd feat of unifying the Evil Sects, which everyone thought impossible.

Three years ago, Jang Ilso was just one of the leaders of the Shenzhou Five Clans, but now he controlled even the leaders of the Shenzhou Five Clans as his subordinates. He was the ruler of the Evil Sect, which no one could deny.

“Hwang Se-Ak….”

The moment his name came out of Jang Ilso’s mouth, Hwang Se-Ak lowered his head even further. He tried to look up slightly to see Jang Ilso. However, the high stairs didn’t allow him to glance at his complexion.

Flutter.

The sound of Jang Ilso’s long coat fluttering loudly reached Hwang Se-Ak’s ears.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Then, the sound of Jang Ilso slowly descending the stairs echoed clearly. A thick, cold sweat began to run down Hwang Se-Ak’s back.

‘I should have arrived sooner.’

If he had known that the Four Precepts Alliance would take over the Southern lands, he would have come running, knelt down, and pledged his loyalty long ago. However, Hwang Se-Ak didn’t fully trust the Four Precepts Alliance and hesitated to make a decision.

The price for that hesitation was now this situation.

He must now give everything up and wait for Jang Ilso to decide. Even if Jang Ilso were to cut off his head because he was late in pledging loyalty, Hwang Se-Ak wouldn’t dare rebel now. Everything he had was at Jang Ilso’s fingertips.

Step. Step.

Jang Ilso came down the stairs and walked leisurely towards Hwang Se-Ak. The sound of the jewels dangling on his body, the sound of the large, long robe brushing against the floor, and the sound of the silk footwear stepping on the ground sounded like music coming out of hell.

“Get up and see.”

“….”

At the voice coming from just above his head, goosebumps ran all over Hwang Se-Ak’s body.

It felt like a snake with deadly poison was crawling up his back. No, it might have been closer to the feeling of a sharp razor blade scratching his neck very shallowly.

“Hurry up.”

Hwang Se-Ak slowly straightened his legs and stood up, raising his head. His trembling eyes met Jang Ilso’s eyes, standing right in front of him.

He forced himself to hold back the saliva that was about to drip down.

Jang Ilso’s eyes were pale and yet so deep that he couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Hwang Se-Ak realized it.

This man wasn’t someone he could dare try to understand.

He couldn’t even guess what he was feeling then, what he was thinking, whether he was being friendly or hostile… he couldn’t even dare to guess any of it.

There was just one thing that someone who was clearly on a different level could do.

“I-I am a little late, alliance lord. P-please, punish me for being this foolish!”

All he could do was surrender everything and ask for mercy.

At that moment.

The lips of Jang Ilso slightly curled up.

“… a little?”

At that cold voice that didn’t even convey a hint of emotion, Hwang Se-Ak felt his blood run cold.

“It is quite a bit late to be called ‘a little’. Isn’t that right?”

Hwang Se-Ak’s fingertips began to tremble.

All the bad things he heard about Jang Ilso came to his mind. How cruel he could be. How merciless he could be. How… much of a devil he was.

“A-Alliance lord…”

Jang Ilso smiled brightly.

“It is fine. It is alright. People are like that. It is foolish to rely on someone without thoughts. It is natural for people to slowly take down everything and then decide their minds on something.”

“T-thank you…”

“But you know.”

At that moment, Jang Ilso’s eyes narrowed like a snake’s.

Soon, he reached out and lightly grabbed the face of Hwang Se-Ak.

“What I want is not a person.”

He didn’t even apply any pressure. The extended fingers simply covered the face. But, at that moment, Hwang Se-Ak felt as if his face was being bitten by a giant beast.

“Uh…”

Jang Ilso’s eyes were visible between the fingertips covering the face.

His eyes, which had usually been calm until a moment ago, were now indescribably seething.

“You must have been wondering whether or not it was worth following me with that shallow mind. I don’t like people like you. If I am even a little cornered, the first ones to try and stab me in the back are such people.”

Hwang Se-Ak’s face turned pale.

He knew he wouldn’t be welcomed, but he never thought they would persecute him so openly. The moment he felt Jang Ilso’s obvious hostility, his entire body froze, and his legs tingled.

“What do I do? Would it be better to accept a guy who was contemplating whether to stab me in the back? Or would it be better to kill him here and eliminate the trouble? Which is a better choice? What do you think?”

Hwang Se-Ak’s whole body began to tremble like a tree. Jang Ilso’s face, smiling with the corners of his mouth twitching, was the very picture of fear. It seemed as if he would burst his head or snap his neck at any moment.

“L-Loyalty! I will be loyal! Alliance Lord! If you tell me to be your dog, I will be a dog! If you tell me to lick your feet, I will lick your feet!”

Let it be known that Hwang Se-Ak was by no means a cowardly or mean person. If the opponent hadn’t been Jang Ilso, he wouldn’t have said such words even if a sword had been put to his neck.

But now, his head was filled with fear.

“A chance! Just give me a chance! I will be loyal to the Alliance Lord, I will definitely prove my loyalty!”

“Uhh.”

As he shouted desperately, holding onto his face, Jang Ilso slowly lowered the hand that had been holding Hwang Se-Ak’s face. This time, he lightly grabbed his Adam’s Apple.

“You are wrong.”

“…”

The color drained from Hwang Se-Ak’s face.

Jang Ilso’s hand, holding his neck, tightened slightly. It was as if he was barely holding back the urge to snap his neck right away.

No words could convey a more certain warning than this. Hwang Se-Ak’s clothes were soaking wet with sweat.

At that moment, Jang Ilso opened his mouth with a meaningful expression.

“I don’t want people, but I don’t want dogs either. Dogs are loyal but stupid.”

“T-then…”

“I will ask, Hwang Se-Ak.”

“….”

“Can you protect my back?”

Hwang Se-Ak nodded without thought.

“I-I can! I will risk my life to protect you.”

“No matter what happens?”

“Of course! I will definitely be a shield that protects the Alliance Lord.”

Jang Ilso stared at Hwang Se-Ak silently after what felt like an eternity for Hwang Se-Ak; Jang Ilso’s red lips finally curved into a smile.

“Nice.”

“…”

“Remember, Hwang Se-Ak.”

“Yes, yes, Alliance Lord!”

“Whatever you did before you entered the Four Precepts Alliance, from this moment on, all of that means nothing.”

“…”

“There is just one thing you have to remember. You die for me. Only for me. Do you understand?”

“I will keep it in mind, and I will keep it in mind carefully.”

“Your answer is wrong.”

Jang Ilso lightly tapped his fingernails on the cheek of Hwang Se-Ak.

“You can do it?”

Hwang Se-Ak’s eyes trembled for a moment, but then he looked straight.

“I will.”

“… then.”

A faint smile appeared on Jang Ilso’s lips.

“I will die for you too.”

Hwang Se-Ak slowly nodded with a pale face.

Jang Ilso let go of Hwang Se-Ak’s neck and shouted as if he liked that expression.

“Alcohol!”

“Yes, Alliance Lord!”

The servants who had been waiting quickly brought a tray with alcohol and glasses.

“Hmmm.”

Jang Ilso smiled and picked up the bottle of alcohol, filling the glasses.

Pour.

After filling both glasses to the brim, he placed his hand on Hwang Se-Ak’s neck again. His long fingernails slowly scratched the neck.

The feeling of the nails digging into the neck was creepy, but Hwang Se-Ak didn’t dare flinch now. He just stood there like an ice statue, waiting for Jang Ilso’s decision.

Pour.

Red blood flowed down the neck. Jang Ilso placed the blood-soaked fingers on the glasses.

Puak!

A drop of blood fell into one glass, and another drop fell into the other glass.

Swat!

He waved his hand and brushed off Hwang Se-Ak’s blood and bow. Then, he cut his finger with his nail. This time, Jang Ilso’s blood fell into the glasses.

Drop.

Jang Ilso mixed the blood into both glasses and smiled as he held one out to Hwang Se-Ak.

“Drink.”

“H-How dare…”

“This.”

Jang Ilso paused for a moment.

As if to tell him to remember what was about to come.

“The blood you will shed for me someday, and the blood I will shed for you someday.”

“….”

“What are you going to do?”

Hwang Se-Ak, who bit his lip slightly, accepted the glass Jang Ilso offered him. Without a moment’s hesitation, he drank the alcohol in one gulp.

“Good.”

Jang Ilso also poured the remaining alcohol into his mouth with a satisfied look.

“As of now, there is no longer a name called Red Pillar Association. There is only Hwang Se-Ak of the Four Precepts Alliance.”

Hwang Se-Ak knelt down on the spot and bowed. He bowed his head deeply as if he were going to dig into the ground.

“I will present my life to the Alliance Lord.”

“That is such a wonderful gift.”

Jang Ilso patted Hwang Se-Ak on the shoulder and smiled kindly as if everything he had done just a moment ago was an illusion.

“Let’s go. One glass of alcohol isn’t enough. Let us drink all night.”

“Yes!”

“Nice. I feel really good. Hahahahah!”

Jang Ilso’s loud laughter reverberated throughout the hall.

It was the moment when the Southern lands’ Red Pillar Association swore complete obedience to the Four Precepts Alliance… no, to Jang Ilso.