Chapter 597

Chapter 597

Huek! Heuk! Heuk!

Lee Jong-Bang ran until his legs gave out.

I-I need to escape!

Even if the other bandits were caught, they might only end up with the basic punishment, but he wouldnt get that.

Being close to Go Hong and acting as his assistant, he wouldnt be treated like the others. It was clear that if he were caught, he would be killed.

Even if Mount Hua had spared him, Im So-Byeong would never have done that. When it came to cruelty, no one was worse than Im So-Byeong. So he had to run until his legs gave out to escape from them.

What a damn lunatic.

The more he thought about it, the more he couldnt hold back his curses. If his leader had just listened to his advice and chosen to retreat, the situation wouldnt have escalated to this point. But that idiot, whose insane advice did he follow to have such confidence?

Just what?

Who was the him he kept talking about?

The fact that he was ignoring Lee Jong-Bangs words meant that this was someone Go Hong knew, and so did he. Considering that he managed to predict what would happen, it was quite detailed.

Then how

Euk! Eukk!

No, now wasnt the time for that. First, he had to get to a place where he wouldnt be followed.

Swishhhh!

Crack!

K-Kuaaak!

Suddenly, Lee Jong-Bang fell down, screaming as if his throat was being torn apart.

Considering the speed at which he was running, he should have been rolling on the ground, but his body couldnt move an inch from where he fell. This was because a spear that flew from somewhere had pierced his thigh and went deep into the ground.

Ack! Ackkkkk!

As he screamed, he reached out his hand and grabbed the spear stuck in his thigh. But he couldnt pull it out, no matter how much he tried. Instead, it only increased the pain.

Just what

What perplexed him more than the pain from the wound was the identity of the person who had hurled the long spear. If Mount Hua had been pursuing him, they would have used a sword, not a spear.

At that moment.

Step. Step.

The sound of people approaching him from behind resonated through the air, and then figures appeared.

Tsk tsk. Just a bit of fright, and people react like this.

It was spoken in a tranquil tone.

However, at that point, Lee Jong-Bang stiffened like a mouse in front of a snake. Despite the voice not being hostile, he felt the most fear from this.

Step. Step.

Those serene steps echoed a little more before halting in front of Lee Jong-Bang.

When Lee Jong-Bang turned his trembling eyes to the side, he saw these flamboyant shoes.

The kind that was too ostentatious, which would be quite burdensome for them to wear.

And this realization made his heart sink.

He couldnt even breathe. Nevertheless, his gaze shifted upward as if he were entranced.

That blood-red robe had a tiger design threaded into it. The pure white hands exposed beneath the red sleeves were adorned with a brightly shining ring and a colorful bracelet, gleaming to the fullest.

A woman?

No, not at all.

This persons physique was too robust to be a womans.

Then?

Hu hu.

Lee Jong-Bangs mouth opened in horror.

Although he couldnt see the face, he could think of just one person. Those flashy clothes and accessories. There was just one person who would dress like

And finally, he managed to catch a slight glimpse of the mans face.

The thin lips, which were red as if they were painted with blood, made the look truly captivating. And that bridge of the nose, which felt masculine. And the eyes beneath those thin-lined eyebrows looked so profound that no one could discern what the man was thinking.

The moment he finally saw the golden crown on the neatly combed head, a groan escaped from Lee Jong-Bang.

Uh, Jang Jang Jang-il

Tsk.

The man who squatted in front of Lee Jong-Bang poked his forehead with a delicate finger.

Is it alright for you to carelessly call me by my name?

Lee Jong-Bang hastily covered his mouth with both hands. Still, he spoke through his hands.

He couldnt help it.

If anyone were to face that man, they would react the same way. The reason was quite simple.

Because the man in front of him was Jang Ilso.

The leader of the Ten Thousand People clan.

The Emperor of True Evil.

Uh?

Puak.

Soon, his finger pierced through the forehead of Lee Jong-Bang. Lee Jong-Bang, with the finger stuck inside him, looked in shock at Jang Ilso, unable to believe, and fell down. He slowly stopped breathing.

The problem is that I dont trust people.

Jang Ilso wiped the blood off his fingers with a cloth and stood up.

Looks like Mount Hua did a pretty good task.

Then, Ho Ga-Myung, the Poison Hearted Monster, approached him with an indifferent look.

Leader.

Uh?

I really do not understand this. A considerable amount of money and effort went into making those troops. Was there any need to waste so much money in the first place?

Tsk tsk. Ga-Myung, Ga-Myung.

Yes, leader.

This is the problem with you. Didnt I always say it? Uh?

.

In order to gain something, you need to lose something,

Jang Ilso, with his back to him, looked intently at the distant mountain peak and said.

The one called Go Hong might look strong, but in reality, he isnt much different from a coward. If he was truly confident in his skills, he would have tried to kill Im So-Byeong already. But doesnt the fact that he has been careful until now and taken my help means that he was timid?

right.

If he hadnt been given a stick to wave, he would have never betrayed the Green Forest at all. He would have never moved.

No, Ga-Myung had other thoughts.

Even if Go Hong had been offered more troops, he would have refused outright. It worked out because Jang Ilso had spoken the words.

The war between Green Forest and the Ten Thousand People Clan was always ongoing. In such a situation, if the enemy leader came in person and gave trustworthy words?

It would be shocking.

This was only possible because of Jang Ilso. It was something only Jang Ilso could do.

As a foolish person, I am not someone who can understand the picture that the leader drew.

It will not be difficult. It is just a matter of following the principles.

Jang Ilso raised his fingertips, examined them, and spoke. That was when this shadow formed.

If there is something to gain, there is something to lose. When there is light, there is shadow. If those people are those who dare to be light, wouldnt it be so bad to throw some firewood for them to burn bright? Wouldnt the shadow deepen with that?

Now, Green Forest has become friends with Mount Hua.

Isnt this the result of the enemy getting stronger?

So, it surely holds meaning, right?

Ho Ja-Myung shook his head as if he couldnt find any reason.

He was a man who had mastered the art of war, but Jang Ilso had his own means of finding solutions, and they werent through normal strategy. At times like this, Ho Ga-Myung realized how insignificant learning things through books was in the face of a gifted person.

Lets head back. I would like to send a gift, but to do that, I have to work, right? I have no choice but to congratulate myself for figuring things out like this. A shame.

Jang Ilso turned around with Ho Ga-Myung sighing and following him.

Ah, and.

Yes.

Have you checked the family members of the troops?

Half of them were orphans, and most werent on good terms with their families. Isnt that the price of bringing together such people?

I see. Then give the money to those with families.

Do we have to?

Tsh.

Jang Ilso frowned slightly, and Ho Ga-Myung bowed his head.

I will do as you asked.

You can buy a persons heart with a few coins, and its a business with plenty for us.

Yes, leader.

Jang Ilso took out a pouch made of golden thread and lightly tossed it to Ho Ga-Myung.

Add it to the money being paid.

Yes!

Having said everything he wanted to say, Jang Ilso walked away calmly. Ho Ga-Myung glanced at the peak where the Green Forest bandits were located.

Such pitiful bastards.

No one would even know who had been behind this plan. And by the time anyone realized that fact, they would find there was no escape from this snake tightening its grip around their body.

But it wasnt their fault.

That was just how Jang Ilso was.

The Lord, Jang Ilso.

The snake that was making a mockery of the world broke its silence and began to move.