After the overwhelming victory, the Four Tyrants Alliance began to withdraw.
It felt as though all their triumphs over the past few weeks were merely falsehoods.
"Hurry up," urged Hu Jiaming, biting his lip momentarily. Though it was difficult to accept Jang Ilso's orders, questioning the alliance lord's command was out of the question, especially on such a battlefield.
As the heat of the boiling battlefield dissipated, a harsh stench and chill began to permeate the air.
"Preparations are complete, sir alliance lord."
"Hmm. Then?"
Jang Ilso glanced briefly.
Chung Myung, who couldn't come any closer, was visible.
Facing each other from a distance, Jang Ilso turned away with a smirk. It was as though he was not turning away, but rather sticking out his back, almost challenging Chung Myung to attack.
With a relaxed smile, Jang Ilso jokingly said, "Let's go. If we raise the stakes any further, things might get out of hand."
Chuckling, he started walking away, and the massive army followed suit, swiftly leaving the blood-soaked ground behind.
Chung Myung could only watch, lips pressed tight. He wanted nothing more than to rush forward and end that guy's life, but he couldn't. Or rather, he shouldn't. Chung Myung knew this better than anyone else.
As blood seeped from his fingertips, dropping to the ground one by one, Hye Yeon and Yu Yiseol approached and stood beside him.
Of course, neither of them could say a word.
If Jang Ilso and his martial arts were still within reach, they could unleash their anger, but he had already fled. What anger could they possibly unleash against thin air?
All they could do was watch in horror and despair.
Chung Myung's teeth ground together faintly. Yu Yiseol looked at him with worried eyes.
"Junior nephew..."
Finally, a voice strained with suppressed anger escaped Chung Myung's tightly clenched lips.
"Dammit."
Truly powerless.
❀ ❀ ❀
Jang Ilso wiped his blood-stained face with a nonchalant demeanor, much to the displeasure of those around him.
He picked at the scab on his dry lips with his nails.
"You seem like quite the cruel leader. You nearly died with a single slip."
He said it lightly, but Beok Jeong was indeed formidable. Anyone who witnessed their fight would dare not deny it.
However, what might astonish most was not Beok Jeong's ability, but Jang Ilso's attitude. To lead such a massive battle to victory and then casually retreat without a care, while scrutinizing the wounds on his own face rather than the situation on the battlefield.
Of course, those who were enemies of the Four Tyrants Alliance couldn't dare to criticize him.
But there were those present who were not affiliated with the Four Tyrants Alliance. They couldn't accept Jang Ilso's behavior as something normal.
"What in the world are you doing?"
"Hmm?"
Jang Ilso, who had been gazing at the splendid scene, turned to meet the glare of someone who seemed deeply angered.
"I am the Palace Lord of the South Sea Sun Palace, alliance lord."
Thousand Faces Scholar, who had hurriedly approached, informed Jang Ilso of his identity. Jang Ilso's eyes narrowed momentarily.
"You're from quite a distance. I should have greeted you properly..."
"Forget the greetings!"
"Hmm?"
"I'll ask again. What is the meaning of this?"
"Palace Lord!"
Thousand Faces Scholar panicked, attempting to stop the Sun Palace Lord, but Jang Ilso raised his hand to restrain him. Then he shrugged.
"What is the meaning... What are you so unhappy about?"
At first glance, it seemed like he genuinely didn't know. Jang Ilso provocatively pushed the issue, making sure everyone around could hear.
"Withdrawing just because of one person in that situation?"
"...Are you out of your mind?"
Jang Ilso's face turned as cold as ice. The Red Dogs who were guarding him also exuded a chilling hostility.
"How dare you..."
"Tsk."
But as Jang Ilso lightly flicked his tongue once, the killing intent that had surged like a well-trained guard dog vanished as if washed away.
While Hu Jiaming and the Red Dogs barely suppressed their anger, Jang Ilso, the one who had been insulted, smiled with amusement.
"Well, I wonder if I'm really in my right mind."
"What..."
"Then, let me ask. What would our esteemed Sir Palace Lord suggest?"
The Sun Palace Lord's hand trembled slightly. He felt a momentary sense of humiliation in Jang Ilso's mocking gaze.
He was royalty in the South Sea, a singular figure in the Jin Clan dynasty. He had never received such looks from anyone by birthright.
However, what truly stung the Sun Palace Lord at this moment was realizing that Jang Ilso was mocking himself, and yet he couldn't easily retaliate because of his own pride.
"It was a great victory," the Sun Palace Lord said through gritted teeth. But Jang Ilso's response remained nonchalant.
"Was it now?"
The Sun Palace Lord's face twisted.
'What...'
He couldn't even fathom this person's thoughts. To call it a mere victory didn't do justice to the accomplishment.
The Nine Sects and One Union would now be divided into quarters, that much was certain. Even if they managed to maintain some semblance of their former structure, they wouldn't regain their former glory for at least a hundred years.
In simple terms, the era of the Nine Sects and One Union was coming to an end.
For the Nine Sects and One Union to stand tall under heaven for hundreds of years, there had to be a force that could pull them down, even across the Great Wall.
Excluding the burdensome Demon Cult, no one dared to imagine such a tremendous feat.
Yet here was someone who had accomplished the impossible, now speaking such words.
The enraged Sun Palace Lord couldn't contain his anger and shouted in a voice on the verge of bursting, "An accomplishment! It means nothing on its own! It only holds meaning when everyone truly recognizes and praises its greatness. Accomplishments that go unnoticed, or receive belated rightful recognition, hold no value whatsoever!"
"Hmm... Is that so?"
The Sun Palace Lord's tone became slightly more composed, while Jang Ilso's words became shorter.
"However, retreating like this makes us appear as if we're fleeing because of just one person! Even if we were to withdraw, that person's head should have been taken!"
Despite the following valid point, Jang Ilso's expression remained unchanged. He simply continued to smile at the Sun Palace Lord, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
His unique atmosphere made Jin Pyeong unable to endure.
"My point..."
"Ah."
Jang Ilso casually raised his hand, cutting off the Sun Palace Lord's words.
"That's enough, if that's the degree."
The Sun Palace Lord was completely thrown off. He had to make an effort not to show any discomfort while clenching his fist hidden in his sleeve.
Before this war had broken out, the alliance lord of the Four Tyrants Alliance, who had already engulfed the Nine Sects, was not someone the South Sea Sun Palace could contend with alone.
He was a man of strategy, despite not being a soldier. He had to be, or he wouldn't have survived as royalty.
"Boasting..."
Jang Ilso muttered and then smiled thinly.
"Very well. If that's what you desire, then I won't stop you."
"Is that so..."
The Sun Palace Lord, who had stopped speaking, flinched before looking at Jang Ilso.
"Now... What did you say just now?"
Looking at his bewildered expression, Jang Ilso called for Hu Jiaming.
"Haha, Jiaming. It seems our guest from afar may not understand the language too well."
Hu Jiaming glanced at the Sun Palace Lord and added, "If you think that's right, then you're saying you won't stop him from enjoying that glory at the Sun Palace."
The Sun Palace Lord's face went blank.
Won't stop him?
"It is true that the South Sea Sun Palace played a role in this war, so you would be qualified to enjoy that glory. If you wish, you can return to the battlefield and fulfill what you believe is right."
Hu Jiaming stated bluntly.
The Sun Palace Lord reflexively turned around at that moment.
It seemed like the stench of blood was reaching even here. The battlefield felt like hell spread out before them.
To be able to grasp the spoils of war named 'war' entirely by oneself. That... was a temptation that the Sun Palace Lord found difficult to resist.
"Go ahead."
Jang Ilso whispered like a snake.
"I'll allow it."
"..."
"Quickly."
A tempting voice.
Though the idea of permission grated on him, at this moment, it was a small concern for the Sun Palace Lord. The reason he didn't immediately nod his head was simply that Jang Ilso's voice seemed strangely sinister, like enticing a child.
'What...'
Then, something strange caught the Sun Palace Lord's eyes as he looked at the battlefield.
The scene that seemed frozen like a painting began to change.
'What's that...?'
As if hearing the question he held inside, Hu Jiaming calmly spoke up.
"Heavenly Friendship Alliance."
"That's not all," Jang Ilso added. Upon which, Hu Jiaming's eyes narrowed sharply. Sure enough, not far from where the Heavenly Friendship Alliance had appeared, another martial arts group revealed itself.
Though unfamiliar, it wasn't difficult to guess their identity.
"The Zhuge Family, and the Moyong Family, it seems."
They were fiercely chasing after the battlefield that had already cooled down.
Finally grasping the situation, the Sun Palace Lord felt a chill run down his spine. Cold sweat dampened his back.
If he had pushed his way back there again?
Perhaps the Sun Palace would have been completely overwhelmed under the wrath of the Heavenly Friendship Alliance and the combined attacks of the two families.
'Why is this happening? Did he have a change of heart?'
The Sun Palace Lord's face, as he looked at Jang Ilso, was somewhat different from before.
'Could it be that he already knew?'
They were exhausted here as well.
While greatly emboldened by the victory, facing another formidable opponent immediately after battling and sacrificing, the outcome of that confrontation would have been difficult to predict.
Jang Ilso withdrew without a moment's hesitation, as if he already knew how it would turn out. Unlike him, who had momentarily been blinded by the spoils of victory, there was no trace of lingering attachment.
Jang Ilso's eyes, still smiling, were chilling. In front of that gaze, the Sun Palace Lord groaned silently with a sense of defeat.
"I...,"
It was difficult to even open his mouth. What could he say?
"Hmm. Seems like you have no intention of going back."
Jang Ilso murmured. At the moment when the Sun Palace Lord was overwhelmed by feelings of defeat and humiliation, Jang Ilso spoke.
"Come."
Jang Ilso gently extended his hand.
For a moment, the Sun Palace Lord, not understanding his intention, hesitated. Jang Ilso smiled and said,
"Welcome to the Four Tyrants Alliance."
The Sun Palace Lord, almost unconsciously, reached out to shake his hand.
The reason he didn't make such a mistake was simple. He felt a chill emanating from Hu Jiaming, who had been silently watching over them.
Jin Pyeong, the Sun Prince, lowered his head instead of grasping Jang Ilso's outstretched hand.
For a royalty to take such a posture was rare indeed. However, his survival instinct continued to shout loudly.
Do not oppose this person.
Forcing his heavy mouth open, Jin Pyeong managed to speak.
"Thank you for the welcome, alliance lord."
Jang Ilso looked down at Jin Pyeong's bowed head. Then, his crimson lips twisted into a sinister smile.
"What a good boy."
His gaze soon lost interest in Jin Pyeong, who had moved away, and turned toward the distant battlefield.
"Unlike some others."