CLS-Chapter 495

Chapter 495:

“The sword isn’t the problem.”

It seemed that it wasn’t Wei Yan-ho who was taking the situation seriously, but the others. Especially the core members of the Heavenly Alliance looked as if they had seen a ghost.

The one who stepped forward was Tang Cheon-gun.

“Are all your words true?”

“Is there any need for me to lie?”

“Cheon Ryu-geom. Do you acknowledge it?”

Cheon Ryu-geom did not answer.

‘What is this?’

Tang Cheon-gun could not accept this situation. Of course, he knew that Hundred Sword Castle was scheming something behind the scenes. Everyone knew it. Hadn’t they already shown such signs at Mount Hua?

But the Demonic Cult?

There was a limit to conspiracies. Colluding with the Demonic Cult was crossing the line. From their perspective, Hundred Sword Castle was an unfriendly neighbor, but the Demonic Cult was a foreign enemy.

Bringing in foreign enemies had always been taboo. Moreover, was the Demonic Cult an ordinary foreign enemy?

“Answer me! Do you acknowledge it or not!”

Cheon Ryu-geom slowly turned his head to look at Tang Cheon-gun.

“What would you do if I said yes?”

“Is this the time for jokes?”

“Jokes? Does this sound like a joke to you?”

Cheon Ryu-geom smiled gently.

“No matter how absent-minded I may be, I wouldn’t joke in such a situation. I’ll ask again. What would you do if I said yes?”

“Cheon Ryu-geom.”

Tang Cheon-gun’s eyes turned cold.

“This is the Tang Family.”

Everything was contained in those words.

“How frightening that sounds.”

But Cheon Ryu-geom only smirked and didn’t seem particularly afraid.

Was it absolute confidence in his martial prowess? Or was it something else?

“How about it?”

Cheon Ryu-geom asked Wei Yan-ho.

“If you hadn’t said those words, it would have ended with just your death. But now I have no choice but to kill everyone here. Reckless words always bring disaster.”

“Nah, reckless words don’t bring disaster.”

Cheon Ryu-geom’s eyes widened.

“No?”

“Right. It’s the bad guys who bring disaster. The one trying to kill people for telling the truth is the bad guy. The person who told the truth isn’t bad. It’s strange how bad guys always shift the blame for their wrongdoings onto other people.”

“Hah…”

Cheon Ryu-geom laughed as if he had nothing to say.

“Your words aren’t wrong.”

“Don’t just brush it off by saying my words aren’t wrong. That’s also a bad habit. My words are simply correct.”

“…”

“You might feel a bit better by shifting responsibility like that, but look at reality properly. You’re just a traitor who joined hands with the Demonic Cult, nothing but trash that can’t even be recycled. It’s laughable how you chuckle and pretend to be enlightened. In reality, you’re filled to the brim with desires and committed acts you shouldn’t have, you piece of trash.”

Cheon Ryu-geom’s face hardened.

They were words he couldn’t deny. But he never expected to hear such words to his face.

“I wish your sword were as sharp as your tongue.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be ten times sharper. Rather, I’m worried about you, old man. The sword of someone who has strayed from the path of a warrior can’t be sharp.”

“…I don’t think you need to worry about that.”

Cheon Ryu-geom pulled back his long robe and grasped his sword hilt.

“I’ve never disappointed anyone with my sword in my lifetime.”

“Today will be your first experience. Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you.”

“You bastard!”

Cheon Ryu-geom was ready to draw his sword immediately, but Tang Cheon-gun wouldn’t allow it.

“Do you think you’ll just have a leisurely duel? Cheon Ryu-geom. If so, you’re looking down on the Tang Family too much.”

Cheon Ryu-geom looked around.

Before he knew it, the Tang Family’s martial force had surrounded them in a wide circle. They showed their determination not to let them go easily.

“Will you interfere in a warrior’s duel?”

“A warrior’s duel, you say. With the Demonic Cult involved, we can’t be having such soft talk. We’ll let you have your duel later. If the investigation results show you have no connection to the Demonic Cult, that is. But not now.”

“Heh heh heh.”

Cheon Ryu-geom removed his hand from his sword hilt.

It was a motion that seemed slightly resigned, but no one dared to rush at Cheon Ryu-geom to subdue him.

“It seems one must gain fame after all.”

Wei Yan-ho also agreed with those words.

“It’s convenient to have.”

“Right. You’re correct. I never thought the vermin of the Tang Family would dare oppress me. If I had known this would happen, I should have gained more fame.”

Tang Cheon-gun couldn’t contain his anger and gritted his teeth.

“…Vermin?”

No matter how great Cheon Ryu-geom might be, to call the Tang Family vermin within the Tang Family’s own grounds. Even if he were innocent, this was unforgivable. No, at this very moment, a new crime had been born. If they released Cheon Ryu-geom without punishment, the Tang Family, whose reputation was already at rock bottom, would suffer irreparable damage.

“I’m curious where that confidence comes from.”

“Confidence?”

Cheon Ryu-geom tapped the sword at his waist.

“Doesn’t a warrior’s confidence come from skill?”

“Skill, you say. Then it’s arrogance. Do you think you alone can handle everyone here?”

“Well.”

Cheon Ryu-geom raised his head and swept his gaze around.

“It might be possible.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’m not one to take risks. I could fight alone and escape, but wouldn’t a blind blade be fair to everyone?”

“A blind blade, you say. It seems you’ve never been hit by a guided hidden weapon.”

“Heh heh. Look here, Family Head.”

Cheon Ryu-geom laughed pleasantly.

“How is it that someone like you sits in the position of family head?”

“…What?”

“Isn’t the position of family head one that leads a family? With eyes that cannot see and a head that cannot think, how can the Tang Family avoid stagnation with such a person in that important position?”

“You…”

Tang Cheon-gun was about to get angry, but Cheon Ryu-geom didn’t let him speak.

“If someone acts strangely, think about what the basis for that might be. Not everyone in the world is more foolish than you. Look here, Family Head. Why don’t you think first about why I’m being so bold here?”

Tang Cheon-gun closed his mouth.

“It would be one of two things. Either I’m strong enough to destroy the Tang Family alone. Or there’s no need for me to destroy it alone. Which do you think it is?”

As soon as Cheon Ryu-geom finished speaking, he wore a sardonic smile.

And the meaning of that smile was soon revealed.

“Uh, over there?”

The crowd’s gazes turned to one place.

A high wall.

A wall befitting the name of the Tang Family.

So high it felt slightly claustrophobic, making it even more characteristic of the Tang Family. Over that outer wall, figures in pure white martial robes were leaping up.

“This!”

Tang Cheon-gun clenched his fists.

‘How did they get here?’

Zhuge Yeom also had a flustered expression.

‘We were caught off guard.’

He couldn’t have imagined it.

The Demonic Cult was stirring. The meaning of that fact was simple. They should set aside all complex grudges and relationships and concentrate all their strength on opposing the Demonic Cult.

Wasn’t the reason Zhuge Yeom was gathering people around Wei Yan-ho ultimately to oppose the Demonic Cult? Because the rift with the Righteous Martial Alliance was too deep, he was trying to forge an alliance using Wei Yan-ho as a buffer.

But in such a situation, an internal enemy appears?

It was something that couldn’t happen and shouldn’t happen.

‘But they aimed for this?’

Normally, if unfamiliar warriors flowed into Sichuan, there would be those who would be wary. But with the fact that the Demonic Cult was stirring, all those movements gained meaning. Sichuan had always been a battlefield against the Demonic Cult. It wouldn’t be strange for hot-blooded warriors to head to Sichuan.

‘Even so…’

At that moment, Jang-il gritted his teeth.

“Those bastards pushed in when we couldn’t move. How perfect.”

“Ugh…”

Zhuge Yeom groaned.

The Beggar’s Sect.

All the problems were unraveling. The Heavenly Alliance had the nature of a confederation. But it wasn’t as centrally strong as the Righteous Martial Alliance. They weren’t in a position to use their own funds and manpower to create an intelligence organization.

They had been relying on the Beggar’s Sect and the Hao Clan to fill that intelligence gap. But recently, with the Heavenly Alliance oppressing the Beggar’s Sect, holes had been punched in their intelligence.

That gap.

Hundred Sword Castle had infiltrated through that thread-thin gap.

Watching the pure white warriors steadily climbing the outer walls, everyone couldn’t hide their bewilderment.

Hundred Sword Castle.

The greatest in the martial world.

With that Hundred Sword Castle pointing their swords at them, how many could maintain their composure?

‘How could this…’

Even Tang Cheon-gun couldn’t maintain his composure. He wouldn’t have been this flustered even if the Demonic Cult had attacked. Because they had the fortress of the Tang Family Tower and mechanisms.

But those people had disguised themselves as neighbors and passed through the traps they had set without any trouble, standing up there. In a fight that started with swords and shields thrown on the ground, they could never match Hundred Sword Castle.

“Family Head.”

Zhuge Yeom whispered quietly.

“Please stay calm for now. Their numbers aren’t as large as they appear. They just look numerous.”

“Hmm.”

“If we assess their strength coolly, it’s not to a degree we can’t handle. No matter what the situation, they couldn’t have brought a large army. And this is Sichuan.”

“Those words are correct.”

The one who responded to Zhuge Yeom’s words wasn’t Tang Cheon-gun, but Cheon Ryu-geom.

Cheon Ryu-geom opened his mouth leisurely with a face full of composure.

“If a battle breaks out, neither side will remain unharmed. And perhaps the Tang Family might even win. But even if you win, that’s all—the name of the Tang Family will disappear into history.”

Tang Cheon-gun gritted his teeth.

It was a threat.

But it was also reality.

As Zhuge Yeom said, they weren’t opponents they couldn’t defeat in battle. But if an all-out battle broke out and they fought to the end, there was a high probability that the Tang Family would only preserve their lineage. If the Demonic Cult attacked in such a situation?

It would be the end.

No matter how much the Tang Family boasted of its history and tradition, if they fell that far into ruin, they couldn’t preserve the family name.

“So didn’t I tell you? Step aside. My purpose is only one. If you let me take just Wei Yan-ho’s head, I’ll withdraw like this. Wouldn’t that be good for everyone?”

“I don’t think it’s good.”

“You have no choice, don’t you? Sometimes one must sacrifice the few for the many. Even if you become that sacrificed few, shouldn’t you accept it?”

“No. I don’t like that sort of thing.”

Wei Yan-ho chuckled.

“Sorry, but I don’t have that kind of spirit of service, so I have no intention of sacrificing myself for others. What’s important is that I eat well and live well. What do others matter to me?”

“But you don’t have a choice, do you?”

“Why don’t I?”

Wei Yan-ho shrugged his shoulders.

“I just need to beat up that old man.”

Wei Yan-ho extended his hand.

“Father. Please give me a sword.”

Wei Jeong-han threw the sword at his waist to Wei Yan-ho without delay. Wei Yan-ho, catching the sword, slowly drew it.

Seureurung.

Wei Yan-ho’s eyes turned coldly as he looked at the drawn sword.

“You’d better be careful. You’ll learn just how frightening the Wei Family’s sword is.”

It was the Wei Family of Guangdong’s declaration toward Hundred Sword Castle.