Chapter 1777. Then, Let's Check It Out. (2)

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"There's no need to scream so loudly. It's not like anyone's dead yet."

With a furrowed brow, Jang Ilso glanced at the child who had collapsed beside him.

"He's just bleeding a little. If you overreact to something like this, how can I even enjoy teasing you?"

Blood vessels popped in Jin Songwon's eyes. The collapsed child's chest, which had been caved in, was faintly rising and falling. As Jang Ilso said, the child hadn't died yet. But what difference did it make?

This move made everything clear. That man was a devil—someone who could snuff out the breath of a helpless child with a smile.

No, it would be better if he were the kind of devil who at least enjoyed harming people. That would be less terrifying.

What truly frightened Jin Songwon beyond measure wasn't that Jang Ilso found joy in killing the child. It was that he pressed down on the child's chest without displaying even a sliver of emotion.

Like brushing off a bug from your arm, or a farmer harvesting rice with a sickle—it was as if he were doing something entirely ordinary. He simply swung his hand without any thought.

And so, Jin Songwon realized. To Jang Ilso, this situation wasn't anything special. That man could do anything.

"You seem to understand the situation now….. Let's begin."

Jang Ilso smiled. But to Jin Songwon, that expression no longer looked like a smile.

A brief silence pooled between them.

Jin Songwon stared blankly at Jang Ilso, while the latter looked back at him with a grin. When Jin Songwon remained frozen, unable to say anything, Jang Ilso's face quickly showed irritation.

"What are you doing? I'm not exactly someone with time to waste."

Jin Songwon's eyes shook violently at those words.

Was he not the one who needed to initiate something?

"How stupid….."

Jang Ilso let out a long sigh and waved his hand lazily.

His subordinates dragged another young disciple forward. The child's face was pale with terror, having just witnessed what had happened to the previous one.

"Ah... Aah..."

The child couldn't even form proper words out of fear. Jang Ilso grabbed the child's hand slowly.

"You must have seen what happened, so you know this isn't my fault. Blame your esteemed sect leader."

As Jang Ilso prepared to twist and break the child's arm, Jin Songwon frantically shouted.

"Wait! Stop! Stop right now!"

"Hmm?"

Jang Ilso, still holding the child's arm, turned to look at him. Jin Songwon's face was drenched in cold sweat.

Though he had managed to stop him for now... what was he supposed to say? What could he possibly do in a situation like this?

"I... I..."

He had no options. But he had to do something.

Jin Songwon wasn't cold-hearted enough to ignore his terrified young disciples.

"Please... just spare the disciples!"

"..."

"They didn't fight against the Evil Tyrant Alliance. No, they don't even understand what it means to go against the Evil Tyrant Alliance! There's no need to kill such young children!"

"Hmm."

Jang Ilso looked at Jin Songwon without any expression, silently staring at him. Desperate, Jin Songwon pleaded even harder.

"The children have committed no sins. Please, I beg of you...."

"Tsk."

Jang Ilso clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. The small sound cut off Jin Songwon's words.

"You really don't get it."

Crack!

"Jang Ilsoooo! Yemyeong-ah!"

The child he had personally initiated into the sect.

A child who always greeted him with a bright smile whenever they crossed paths at the temple. Now, Dan Yemyeong's arm was twisted at a grotesque angle, his once-smiling face now contorted in pain.

Jin Songwon vomited blood as he screamed in agony, his appearance truly miserable.

But Jang Ilso paid him no mind. Instead, he slowly patted the crying child's head, as if to comfort him.

"There, there. You need to stop crying now."

"Sniff... Ugh..."

"It's strange. When I hear kids cry, I get angry. You don't want me to get angry, do you?"

The child, shaking in terror, frantically shook his head. Though tears still rolled down his face, he managed to suppress the sobs by clamping his mouth shut.

Jang Ilso smiled at the sight. Then, as if rewarding the child, he gently tapped his head.

"You're a good child. Yes, I like you. But... it seems your sect leader still doesn't quite get it."

Jang Ilso opened his hand and examined his fingers before casting a glance at Jin Songwon.

"Words like that don't interest me."

Then, he slowly wrapped his hand around the child's neck. The child's body convulsed as if it had been touched by fire.

"You're so fragile. It feels like you'd break with just a bit more pressure."

"Stop! Please stop! I beg you!"

Jin Songwon cried out with a face as pale as ash.

"What do you want? What can I do for you?"

"No, no."

Once again, Jang Ilso shook his head coldly.

"You're the one who has to offer something. I'll just decide whether or not I like it."

"…. And if you're not satisfied?"

"You already know the answer."

Jang Ilso smiled brightly—a pure, unblemished smile.

"The death I give is the same for anyone, no matter who they are. I've already shown you, haven't I?"

Jin Songwon, dazed, looked around as if hypnotized.

The mutilated corpses lay everywhere within his sight. Bodies torn apart with not a single part left unharmed. Jin Songwon's eyes filled with even greater fear.

"Oh, I forgot to mention one thing."

"Wh...what..."

"By the way, you'll be last. You'll get to witness everything. Every single bit."

Jin Songwon began to shake uncontrollably, like a tree in a storm. Would he really have to watch his young disciples be slaughtered right before his eyes?

No. That's impossible. No one could endure such torment and remain sane. It would be better to gouge his own eyes out.

"Come on, tell me. I'm a busy man."

"I... I..."

"Are you looking for an easy way out?"

Jin Songwon, like a man possessed, clawed at the bloodstained ground, weeping.

"I'll surrender. None of us will resist."

"Hm?"

"Not a single one of us will resist! If you spare the children, you can kill us all without any trouble!"

"My, my."

Jang Ilso sighed, sounding a bit tired.

"Why do these so-called righteous sects always overestimate themselves? Think about it. I can do that with or without your help."

At that moment, Jin Songwon saw it clearly. Jang Ilso's grip tightened around the child's neck.

Jin Songwon's sanity shattered in an instant.

"Wait! Wait! Then... then!"

In his madness, Jin Songwon desperately grasped at anything he could.

"I'll give you everything from Diancang! The sect's secrets, everything hidden from outsiders...!"

"Keep that trash for yourselves."

"I'll offer our lives! All of us will die willingly! You won't even need to dirty your hands. We'll end our lives on our own!"

"That would indeed be an interesting sight. But it's not what I want."

Crack!

A horrid sound echoed through the air, utterly indifferent.

"Uh..."

Thud.

A child fell to the ground as if a flower petal had dropped.

"Ugh... Ughhhhhh!"

Jin Songwon, nearly deranged, clawed at his own face. He didn't feel the pain or notice the wounds. He was halfway mad—no, he wished he could go completely insane.

Jang Ilso clicked his tongue nonchalantly as he watched.

"Tsk tsk. He's not dead. I told you, I wouldn't kill him like this. He's just lost the ability to walk again. That's all, nothing major."

Blood dripped from Jin Songwon's torn eyelids, looking as if he were crying tears of blood.

"Now, make your decision."

Jang Ilso smiled faintly.

"You knew from the beginning, didn't you? That your only option was the stone."

[tl note: The phrase implies that there was only one possible course of action or choice available, symbolized by 'the stone'.]

Jin Songwon raised his head in silence. His blood-red vision was filled with countless things.

Jang Ilso, smiling brightly, and his subordinates, glaring as if they would slaughter everything around them at any moment, while in between stood the pale, tearfully silent children, and the burning halls around them...

But Jin Songwon wasn't truly looking at what lay ahead. What he really sought lay behind him.

He slowly turned.

What expressions were they wearing? What face was Jin Songwon showing them?

"...Sahyeong."

His disciple's lips trembled as he called out, his face deathly pale.

Jin Songwon had never seen Hyeon Yeonbaek with such an expression before. Jin Songwon's own face likely wasn't much different.

The other disciples were no different.

Some could not suppress their rage, some had lost all hope, and others were biting their hands, trying to stifle their grief.

But none of them could bring themselves to choose.

If they fought, they might uphold their honor, but they'd have to watch those children be brutally killed by the enemies.

If they bowed their heads, they might save the children, but they would forever be scorned by the world.

What was right? What was the right choice to make?

"I... don't know."

"....."

"Must I overlook death for the sake of honor?"

"Sect leader..."

"I can gladly accept death for the sake of honor. But must I also accept others' deaths for it?"

Tears finally started to flow from his disciples eyes.

"What am I to do? What should I do...? I…."

This was Jin Songwon's most desperate moment, hoping someone else would give him an answer. But no one did. No one could.

After gazing silently at them for a moment, Jin Songwon turned his attention forward again. The only thing his eyes focused on was the children, trembling in fear.

'What was all of this for?'

Why had he wielded his sword, and why had he fought to survive? What had he been trying to achieve?

".... Go forth."

Without turning back, Jin Songwon shouted. Perhaps he lacked the courage to face their expressions.

"Yes, Sect leader..."

"Diancang no longer exists."

"Sect leader!"

His disciples cried out in shock. There was an uproar behind him, but Jin Songwon clenched his fists and did not look back.

"It didn't collapse. From this moment, Diancang no longer exists in this world. I am no longer your sect leader. Only two remain here: one who dies upholding honor and one who survives as a dog."

Jin Songwon glared at Jang Ilso with bloodshot eyes. As he clenched his lips, his barely healed wound reopened, and dark red blood trickled out.

"So choose for yourselves. Will you live as pathetic dogs or die as warriors?"

And with that, Jin Songwon made his decision.

Thud!

His knees hit the ground.

"Stop! Please stop, Sect leader!"

Thud!

Jin Songwon placed both hands on the ground.

"Please, please, Sect leader! Please...!"

It was not an act of bowing. Jin Songwon, lying flat on the ground, began to crawl slowly toward Jang Ilso.

Like a dog with its tail between its legs.

"Sect leadeerrr!"

"Stop this, Sect leader!"

With a face soaked in blood and tears, he pressed his head firmly to the ground. He had no courage to face the heavens. Nor could he face anyone else.

He was no longer even human.

"Ugh, ughhhhhh!"

Several disciples, unable to bear the humiliation and rage, grabbed their swords and rushed at Jang Ilso. But before their blades could reach him, a storm of spears flew at them, piercing and shredding their bodies mercilessly.

Blood sprayed, tears flowed, and their faces twisted in grief even in their final moments.

Jin Songwon could see nothing. He no longer deserved to look upon the sky with an unmasked face.

Scrape. Scrape.

The sound of Jin Songwon's robe dragging across the ground echoed slowly.

Though the distance was short, it felt like an eternity for him as he finally reached Jang Ilso's feet. He glared at them.

When he slowly raised his gaze, Jang Ilso stood there, smiling as if he found the whole scene fascinating and amusing. In contrast, Jin Songwon appeared burdened with the weight of the world's suffering.

One side was arrogant; the other, groveling. One side was relaxed, while the other was desperate.

"A promise must be..."

"Of course."

Jin Songwon no longer thought. His trembling lips forced themselves open, and his tongue emerged.

He heard the cries of more disciples, screaming as they met their deaths, but he did not look back.

"Sect leaderrrrrrr!"

He closed his eyes and shut his ears.

He licked Jang Ilso's feet. And Jin Songwon had no idea whether the liquid running from his eyes was tears or something else. He didn't even know what part of himself had broken inside.

He could no longer comprehend anything.

It was over. Even the most miserable end he had imagined paled compared to the reality he now faced.

"I'll be your dog. I'll do whatever you want. Just... spare the children..."

But then, suddenly, Jang Ilso raised his finger to his lips and whispered.

"No."

"....."

"You've seen a talking dog before?"

Jin Songwon looked up at Jang Ilso in a daze. His eyes no longer held any trace of defiance. Though he was looking at Jang Ilso, all he could see were the faces of the crying children.

".... Woof."

And then, a sound escaped Jin Songwon's mouth.

"Woof, woof! Woof!"

He barked. He buried his head in the ground and obeyed, like a dog.

"Woof! Woof, woof! Woof!"

As the sound spread, Jang Ilso burst into laughter.

"Hahahahahaha! Yes, that's the way!"

With the softest of gestures, Jang Ilso patted Jin Songwon's head.

"What a good dog you are. Remember this: You'll forever live as a good dog."

The eyes Jin Songwon faced that day were not those of a human being. They belonged to a devil.

No, even devils would turn and flee from that gaze.

Tl note: there's note from the Korean author at the end of chapter.

Hello, this is Biga.

A few days ago, at dawn, I suddenly experienced a loud ringing in my ears and lost hearing. I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with sudden deafness. The condition isn't good, and there's a risk of permanent hearing loss.

The cause isn't clear, but it usually arises from overwork, stress, or aging.

I am currently awaiting additional tests. If the results don't look good, hospitalization might be inevitable.

Even if I don't get hospitalized, I've been told that I need to take a break from work for a while. This might cause some delays in the serialization of "Return of Mount Hua Sect."

For now, I am planning to continue serialization as much as possible, even if it means reducing working hours. However, depending on the situation, there could be instances where I may have to take a break without prior notice.

I feel sorry for constantly bringing you such news due to my shortcomings as an author. I hope for your understanding.

I will do my best to recover quickly and return to regular serialization.

Thank you.