“This....”
In an already unfavorable situation, the Black Dragon King, feeling as if a sore point had been hit, became infuriated. Just as he was about to roar with fiery eyes, Thousand-Faced Gentleman intervened in a calm tone.
“One’s head remains attached....”
He smiled thinly.
“Is Paegun suggesting he’s going to behead us?”
Jang Ilso also responded with a smile.
“Why would you think such a frightening thing? How could that be possible?”
Thousand-Faced Gentleman’s gentle gaze turned to Jang Ilso.
“Then, who would be beheading us?”
“You’re not asking because you don’t know. If someone was present here while didn’t understand that, there would be no reason for me to converse with them.”
“Hahaha....”
Laughter continued, but Thousand-Faced Gentleman’s eyes were filled with chilling killing intent.
Though his face always seemed amiable, in fact, among the leaders of the Five Great Evil Sect, he’s called the most ruthless. Due to his role in handling information, he doesn’t regard torturing and killing humans as a sin.
“Your joke has gone too far, Paegun.”
“Hmm.”
Without a word, Jang Ilso poured himself another drink.
As soon as Thousand-Faced Gentleman’s eyes were dimmed by an act that could be taken as ignoring, Jang Ilso spoke.
“At first, Eighteen Water Fortress of the Yangtze River.”
“....”
“Next, perhaps... Black Ghost Fortress.”
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
It’s rare for the usually emotionless man to show even this small of a reaction. That short movement showed how uncomfortable he is now.
“After that, Myriad Man Manor. Finally, Hao Sect.”
“....”
“Each will be hunted down in turn and probably beheaded. Or they could relinquish everything they have and become refugees.”
Kung!
Black Dragon King struck the tea table.
“Who dares to say they can do such a thing?”
“Ten Great Sect.”
The response was immediate, causing the Black Dragon King to fall silent as if he had lost his word.
“....”
“And... perhaps even the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”
Eudeuduk.
The Black Dragon King, who distorted his face like an evil ghost, glared at Jang Ilso and said,
“Let’s say that’s the case with the Ten Great Sect. But are you suggesting that we even need to consider those small fries from the Heavenly Comrade Alliance?”
“Small fries?”
Jang Ilso smiled and looked straight at Black Dragon King.
“Among all of you here, is there anyone who can guarantee that you can deal with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance alone?”
“....”
“Sichuan Tang Family, Namman Yasugung Clan, and North Sea Ice Clan, Mount Hua Sect... Besides, who can deal with Heavenly Comrade Alliance, who even Nokrim has joined? Is it Eighteen Water Fortress of the Yangtze River?”
“This guy....”
“Times have changed, Black Dragon King. The names of Eighteen Water Fortress of the Yangtze River are no longer a fear to the public.”
“Hmm.”
The Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold shook his head.
“It’s certainly impossible to deal with Heavenly Comrade Alliance alone. However, it is an idealistic idea that Heavenly Comrade Alliance can gather their strength as one. They are too far apart from each other and are entangled in loose bonds. All of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s power won’t be focused in one place.”
“That’s correct. However...”
The corners of Jang Ilso’s mouth rose with a smile.
“Heavenly Comrade Alliance is a problem in their own right.”
“....”
“As you may know, if not for the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, neither Shaolin nor Wudang would have made a move.”
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold shook his head as if he could not deny it.
“I’m sure that’s the case since there’s nothing to gain.”
Protecting the Yangtze River is certainly something worth fame and goodwill.
However, places like Shaolin, Wudang, and Namgung Family do not need any more fame. It’s meaningful to those who haven’t built it up yet. There is no reason for them to covet fame and public favor.
“But with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, the story changed.”
“....”
“Even beasts know to form an alliance when their lives are threatened against natural enemies. But humans? They drag their petty grudges into life-and-death situations?”
“....”
Even the tone of speech, which maintained superficial politeness, disappeared without a trace. The smile of Jang Ilso showed his white teeth.
“Resentment, hatred, and all the trivial emotions you enjoy exist because you have your neck attached. They mean nothing when you’re dead. The most important thing for a human isn’t resentment, dignity, or profit.”
Everyone couldn’t bear to refute and kept an eye on Jang Ilso.
Receiving those gazes, Jang Ilso slowly opened his mouth.
“Survival.”
“....”
“You must survive to have a future. If you don’t survive, nothing else matters. I would do anything to survive. Even if it means rolling in a pile of manure, or shamelessly licking the feet of my archenemy!”
These are not words that would come out of the mouth of someone with the highest status as the head of the Five Great Evil Sect.
But that’s precisely why they could feel Jang Ilso’s sincerity better.
“In comparison, protecting the back of an enemy who was pointing a sword at you just yesterday is nothing.”
Jang Ilso swiftly downed the newly poured drink and looked straight at everyone with a mysterious smile. He then softly asked.
“Don’t you think so?”
“Hmm.”
A faint groan escaped from the mouths of Thousand-Faced Gentleman and King Black Dragon.
Certainly, they detest the people in front of them more than the encroaching Righteous Faction. It’s no exaggeration to say that their history is one that killing each other.
However, no matter the situation, they are of the Evil Faction. They can’t join hands with the Righteous Faction. In order to deal with Righteous Factions that have begun to move in earnest, they have no other option but to rely on each other.
“First....”
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold opened his mouth.
“If this situation ends temporarily, then all of these discussions are meaningless. Because only the pirates will suffer damage and it will be over.”
“That won’t happen.”
Jang Ilso said plainly.
“If the Heavenly Comrade Alliance doesn’t stop, the Ten Great Sect has no way to stop it on their own. They might be stronger in terms of power, but the initiative is already in the hands of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”
“....”
“And Mount Hua Sect, the head of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, is not a place to stop at all. They are greedy. Perhaps as much as I am.”
Jang Ilso’s smile deepened as he recalled Mount Hua. A hint of madness flashed in his eyes.
“They will certainly push south of the Yangtze River in one way or another. So, the Ten Great Sect won’t be able to just stand by either.”
“To save their face?”
“That’s part of it. But to be exact, it’s because they can’t just stand by and watch as the Heavenly Comrade Alliance absorbs the lands south of the Yangtze River.”
Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold nodded as if he had finished rolling the abacus.
“So, to oppose such a Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Ten Great Sect, and the Five Great Family, we must unite?”
“Yes. Otherwise, we must choose one of the two.”
Jang Ilso, who suddenly smiled, spoke quietly as if he were growling.
“Either live like a dog or die like a wolf.”
“....”
“....”
“But what I want is to survive as a wolf. I can see my opponent as prey when I’m confident I can hunt without being hurt. If you have to be prepared to tear your arms off and spill your guts in exchange for hunting, don’t you dare say hunting.”
Jang Ilso, clutching his face in one hand, said.
“You can attach whatever lofty reason you want.”
His eyes, seen between his fingers, were eerily intense.
“Whatever the cause may be, the goal is survival. To survive. If we miss our chance, even if we unite, we’ll just be torn apart. I must live. I must survive and enjoy everything I’ve acquired, without missing a single grain.”
Listening, Thousand-Faced Gentleman held his forehead with one hand and chuckled softly.
“It’s so blatant and low-grade, I don’t even know what to say.”
“....”
“But....”
His eyes shed a brilliant blue glow.
“There’s nothing wrong. I’m not someone who’s eager to die either. If that’s the only way to live, so be it. I will share the will of Paegun.”
Jang Ilso curled the corners of his lips smoothly.
“From this moment on, Five Great Evil Sect no longer exists.”
A grand proclamation burst forth.
“What remains are the four sects, and the alliance! Only the name ‘Four Tyrant Alliance (???(四覇聯))’ will remain where Five Great Evil Sect once was!”
The name that would sweep the world like a storm.
It was the moment when the existence of the Evil Tyrant Alliance first came out of Jang Ilso’s mouth.