CLS-Chapter 443

Chapter 443:

“With the Heavenly Alliance Leader?”

“To be frank, the Heavenly Alliance has excessive authority concentrated in the Alliance Leader. It was inevitable. Unlike the Righteous Martial Alliance, the Heavenly Alliance has loose ties of confederation. Therefore, there’s a high probability they’ll reject the Heavenly Alliance’s position according to their own interests. That’s why they strengthened the Alliance Leader’s authority to make the Alliance Leader’s commands absolute.”

“Hmm…”

“The Heavenly Alliance Leader is different from the Righteous Martial Alliance Leader. In the end, if you want to obtain the Heavenly Alliance’s cooperation, nothing can be accomplished without meeting the Alliance Leader.”

“I understand that, but…”

Wei Jeong-han scratched his head. His face gradually became more distorted.

“But why Yan-ho?”

“If it’s not Wei Yan-ho, the Heavenly Alliance Leader won’t want to meet. And… it’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but I don’t think the Heavenly Alliance Leader would show interest in Master Wei.”

“Keuk, you’re being cold.”

“It’s the truth, so it can’t be helped.”

Zhuge Yan smiled bitterly.

Though it was somewhat awkward to say in front of his father, the difference in status between Wei Yan-ho and Wei Jeong-han in the martial world had already grown significantly.

If Wei Jeong-han was one of the renowned masters, Wei Yan-ho was now being treated as a candidate for the Number One Under Heaven and the natural next Number One Under Heaven. In terms of status, there was a difference of more than two levels.

“Moreover, since the Heavenly Alliance Leader is such an eccentric person… he has no interest in someone predictable like Master Wei. Previously, he showed interest in Wei Yan-ho several times.”

At Zhuge Yan’s words, Wei Jeong-han sighed.

“What’s the reason for putting forward such an eccentric person as the Heavenly Alliance Leader?”

“Don’t you know? In Sichuan, there’s no one else with such skill who isn’t affiliated with any particular faction.”

“That’s certainly true.”

Wei Jeong-han smiled bitterly.

The current Heavenly Alliance Leader was truly a dragon that emerged from a ditch. He wasn’t from a famous martial family, nor was he the inheritor of some great divine technique, but had reached that position solely by perfecting his own martial learning.

He was a truly legendary figure who crawled up from the bottom to become a Grandmaster. Only because he reached such heights could he ascend to the position of Heavenly Alliance Leader.

The problem was…

“But it’s rather disappointing. We’ve fought together several times in past wars, yet he even ignores me.”

“Isn’t that just how he is?”

“That’s right. That’s just how he is.”

Wei Jeong-han pulled up the Heavenly Alliance Leader from his memories.

War Sword Cheok Su-gwang.

A truly legendary figure who created his own martial path with nothing but the sword in his hand, starting from absolute nothing.

The times when he roamed the battlefield with him were still vivid in Wei Jeong-han’s memory.

‘What should I call that?’

His sword was completely different from any sword Wei Jeong-han had known until then. Extremely practical, extremely intuitive, and extremely dangerous.

Facing that sword felt like putting one’s neck into the maw of a beast.

‘There was no one else who felt fortunate that he was an ally.’

To borrow the Divine Beggar’s expression, even Wei Jeong-han of those days, who feared nothing, didn’t dare think of confronting Cheok Su-gwang. That’s how ferocious his sword was.

A War Sword born solely for battle.

The one who completed the Wandering Blade that was said could never be completed and awed the world was none other than War Sword Cheok Su-gwang. Though now he’s called not War Sword but War King.

“But Yan-ho…”

Wei Jeong-han asked with a sour expression.

“Why does he show interest in Yan-ho?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Because he’s strong.”

Zhuge Yan asked back as if wondering why he’d ask such a thing.

“Don’t you have an acquaintance with the War King?”

“I do.”

“Then you should know. He has no interest in anyone but the strong. For him, a world where no new strong people appeared for a while must have been boredom itself.”

“Huuu…”

Wei Jeong-han let out a deep sigh.

“I’m rather reluctant to have Yan-ho meet with him.”

“That’s understandable.”

Zhuge Yan smiled bitterly.

The War King was a frightening person. And he was also an eccentric.

If the Demonic Cult hadn’t invaded during the period when he was active, he would have drawn the resentment of many as a figure between righteousness and evil. He might have accumulated enough hatred to be unable to survive in the martial world.

But whether it was good luck, or perhaps such a person appeared because it was such a time, when the War King needed real combat to perfect his sword, the Demonic Cult invaded.

At that time, the War King rampaged like a fish in water.

The War King, who was just a wandering warrior when the war began, had transformed into a swordsman capable of facing the Demonic Cult’s High Priest by the time the war ended.

He was truly a master of the killing blade perfected in war.

‘If that eccentric personality meets Yan-ho…’

Wei Jeong-han didn’t even want to imagine it.

“It seems impossible. I don’t want to have anyone else, but I don’t want to have Yan-ho meet with him. Until now, everyone has been considerate of Yan-ho’s personality to some extent, so no major incidents occurred, but… he’s not that kind of person.”

“Master Wei.”

Zhuge Yan spoke in a heavy voice.

“Young Master Wei is no longer your child.”

“What do you mean by that…”

“Those who would be Number One Under Heaven are not bound by blood relations. The True King even confined his own mother.”

“I…”

“If Young Master Wei is too soft-hearted to do so, then Master Wei must do it. He’s not a child you can hold in your embrace. He’s a child you must push off a cliff.”

Wei Jeong-han quietly closed his eyes.

“Even if you avoid it now, nothing will change. When the war begins, Young Master Wei will inevitably have to stand at the vanguard. He must lead. Will you still try to hold him in your embrace then?”

“I don’t know well.”

Wei Jeong-han opened his mouth with honest feelings.

“I know, I know too. I know that the boy has left my hands. But I’m also a parent, aren’t I? You’ve also seen Yan-ho, but how can I trust and entrust him with anything?”

“…”

“He’s like a child left by the water’s edge. He can’t do anything properly except fighting. No matter how much I’m the head of a martial family, are you telling me to drive my child to the battlefield just because the only thing he can do is fight? Even knowing that’s right, I’m reluctant.”

“That would be natural.”

Isn’t that the heart of every parent?

Where would you find someone who could watch their child hold a sword and fight with satisfaction? Parents are those whose hearts tremble with anxiety, worried the child might get hurt or see blood.

“Still, you must let go.”

“…”

“That’s the path for the sake of the world.”

“That’s right.”

Wei Jeong-han felt a subtle sorrow.

Once, he had staked everything on chivalry. He lived thinking that only upholding chivalry had value.

According to that chivalry, sending Wei Yan-ho out now was correct. The fact that Wei Yan-ho would be the greatest variable in the war against the Demonic Cult was something anyone could understand.

So he had to be trained harshly before the Demonic Cult invaded. The Wei Jeong-han of the past would have naturally said so.

But…

‘My friend, this is all because of you.’

After learning that chivalry couldn’t represent everything about humans, Wei Jeong-han had no choice but to change.

“I understand.”

But there was no other choice now. Even to prevent any possible calamity, the Heavenly Alliance Leader’s cooperation was necessary.

“Though I hate to admit it, among those here now, the one who can represent the Righteous Martial Alliance would be Yan-ho. I’ll send Yan-ho to the Heavenly Alliance Leader as a special envoy of the Righteous Martial Alliance.”

“You’ve thought well.”

“However… I can’t guarantee the results will be good.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Zhuge Yan smiled brightly.

“Because we’re not sending him expecting results.”

“What? That’s…”

Wei Jeong-han’s face instantly became dumbfounded.

***

“I’m not going.”

“I knew you’d say that, you brat!”

Having made up his mind didn’t mean everything was resolved. Wei Jeong-han faced his second crisis.

“But how am I supposed to send Yan-ho there?”

“That’s something father should figure out.”

What a petty person.

If you suggest a method, shouldn’t you help with the execution too? Knowing well how difficult it is to move that person.

Recalling Zhuge Yan’s face as he sneakily retreated, Wei Jeong-han felt his anger rising anew.

“The Divine Beggar ordered it.”

“That lie, is it really true? When you talked about the war yesterday, you didn’t mention anything like that.”

“It’s true. Yesterday I just didn’t mention it because there was no particular need to talk about it.”

“Father.”

“Yeah?”

“You know why Mother always catches you when you lie about not drinking? Even when you use your internal energy to dispel all the alcohol and remove the smell?”

“…How would I know.”

“When you lie, your brow furrows. Right now your brow is extremely furrowed, you know?”

“…”

Damn brat.

And a petty one too.

If you knew that, you could have told me earlier.

There’s no use raising children. They’re all on their mother’s side, with no one taking my side. Even Wei San-ho, whom he believed was on his side, would subtly take Han Sang-ah’s side when she and he fought, didn’t he?

Damn brats.

Though resentment surged up, now wasn’t the time to get angry but to appease.

“Whether the Divine Beggar said it or not, that’s not what’s important. What’s important is that you must go.”

Wei Yan-ho let out a deep sigh.

“Father.”

“Yeah?”

“You seem to have forgotten lately, but I’m a lazy person. Why do you expect so much from me?”

“…Is telling you not to be lazy expecting so much? Did I tell you to pass the state examination with top honors, or did I tell you to go out and hold martial competitions to raise your reputation? It’s infuriating enough watching a child who lies in bed for ten out of twelve hours a day, but I understand even that. So let’s just do the occasional task I give you without complaints—is that so wrong? You damn brat!”

As he spoke, his voice gradually rose, and by the end it had almost become shouting.

He had reason to be angry.

Yeah, he has reason to be angry. Anyone would be.

“Why are you shouting?”

“Consider yourself lucky I’m only shouting! Before I pour shit water on that damn bed of yours, won’t you get up right now!”

“Hey, this isn’t even mine.”

“Keuk!”

“Alright! I’ll go, I said I’ll go!”

Wei Yan-ho stuck out his lips like a duck’s bill and jumped up.

“Now you just naturally take it for granted to order me around. Tsk!”

“Shut up! You brat!”

Though his words were harsh, Wei Jeong-han looked at Wei Yan-ho with surprised eyes.

‘But he’s getting up?’

In the past, he would never have gotten up before overturning the bed. Others might not notice, but in Wei Jeong-han’s eyes, Wei Yan-ho had become somewhat more diligent.

Even if it was just by an ant’s tear’s worth.

“But who am I going to meet?”

“The War King.”

Wei Jeong-han added words he didn’t need to say.

“In a different sense, someone like you.”