CLS-Chapter 523

Chapter  523:

“Hundred Sword Castle has made their move.”

Shin Gi-sua froze in place, teacup still in hand.

‘This quickly?’

No. It shouldn’t be this fast.

Shin Gi-sua was not someone who would be unaware that Hundred Sword Castle was targeting the Central Plains. If he didn’t even know that much, he wouldn’t have any excuse, even if he were called a scarecrow.

But according to his calculations, Hundred Sword Castle shouldn’t be able to move yet.

Conquering the Central Plains inevitably brings danger. While there might be possibilities for mediation in conflicts between sects, when making the Central Plains your enemy, failure would only leave complete annihilation.

Among all those who had invaded the Central Plains claiming they would conquer it, the only ones who preserved their lineage were all forces from beyond the world. Since Hundred Sword Castle had their base in the Central Plains, their movements should have been limited.

“What about the Demon Cult!”

Shin Gi-sua’s voice grew louder.

If they moved despite this, it meant they had other support to rely on. It meant they had made calculations certain enough to move even considering all the circumstances they faced.

“Ah, we haven’t received any particular news yet…”

“Check it! Send urgent messages immediately!”

“Yes!”

Shin Gi-sua slammed his desk roughly.

‘Was I complacent?’

That wasn’t it.

He thought that if there was any movement, the Demon Cult would surely move first. Considering the distance between the Demon Cult and the Central Plains, it was all too natural. No matter how capable the Demon Cult members were, it would take time to invade the Central Plains.

If Hundred Sword Castle moved alone without the Demon Cult, they would have to face the giant sects of Henan alone. For Hundred Sword Castle, this would be a burden they absolutely wouldn’t want to bear.

‘And yet they’re moving?’

There’s something I’ve missed.

Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense.

Shin Gi-sua grabbed his chin.

‘What are they planning!’

The opponent is by no means stupid.

Shin Gi-sua was not someone who would make the mistake of underestimating his opponents. The idea that everyone dances in the palm of his hand is arrogance. There are definitely those in the world who are superior to him. Even if they’re not superior to him, there are plenty who could devise strategies he couldn’t think of.

How many strategists from the past had fallen after being caught off guard in such ways?

“Tell the Alliance Leader, immediately!”

“Yes!”

“No!”

Shin Gi-sua sprang up from his seat. As soon as he stood, he moved with quick steps.

“I’ll go myself.”

“Yes!”

“And…”

Shin Gi-sua’s moving feet stopped.

“The Zhejiang branch?”

“…”

No answer came.

“I understand.”

After patting the messenger’s shoulder, Shin Gi-sua quickened his pace.

‘Is this the beginning?’

His face darkened beyond measure.

“Hundred Sword Castle has finally…”

Gwon Geuk’s reaction wasn’t much different either.

It was a situation they would have to face eventually. But it was a situation they would avoid if they could.

Whether they could defeat them or not wasn’t important. In the end, war is a business where even the victor gains nothing. When people die, what profit and loss is there to calculate?

It meant hell was beginning where no one would gain anything.

“They’re moving this quickly?”

“I’m sorry. I failed to predict this in advance.”

“…It wouldn’t be your fault. Who in the world could blame you? If you couldn’t predict it, no one could have.”

Gwon Geuk let out a deep sigh.

‘If I should blame anyone, I should blame myself.’

Despite Shin Gi-sua’s repeated suggestions to be wary of Hundred Sword Castle, Gwon Geuk had not permitted reinforcements to the Zhejiang branch.

It couldn’t be helped.

The moment they reinforced the Zhejiang branch with troops, Hundred Sword Castle and the Righteous Martial Alliance would become irreversibly opposed. Who would consider someone who brings troops to their front yard a partner for dialogue?

Gwon Geuk couldn’t abandon hope.

No matter how much Hundred Sword Castle showed coordinated movements with the Demon Cult, he believed they would never completely turn away. He believed such reckless acts of allying with the Demon Cult against the world couldn’t continue.

Faith in humanity—that faith had ruined everything.

“Why, why are they doing such things!”

Could Gwon Geuk be said to be wrong?

With results like this, he couldn’t be called right, but his choice couldn’t be called completely wrong either. Joining hands with the Demon Cult was just that difficult to accept.

This was why no one could readily step forward to attack Hundred Sword Castle, even though the circumstances clearly showed they had some connection with the Demon Cult. Who could accept that these Han people would join hands with foreign enemies to attack the Central Plains?

“Alliance Leader!”

At Shin Gi-sua’s urging, Gwon Geuk let out a deep sigh.

“I know.”

Gwon Geuk pressed his forehead.

‘Are those terrible days beginning again?’

It’s dismal.

If they’ve moved, it means the Demon Cult is moving too. Gwon Geuk let out a deep sigh. Shin Gi-sua, who knew the meaning of that sigh better than anyone, didn’t dare urge Gwon Geuk.

“We’ll have to move.”

“Yes.”

“The preparations?”

“The Henan branch is standing by.”

“I see.”

Henan has the Namgung Family and Shaolin.

Under normal circumstances, Shaolin would have refused their orders. Aren’t they one of the Nine Great Sects, always looking for opportunities to escape from the Righteous Martial Alliance’s influence? But in this situation, there’s no choice. Antagonism means mutual destruction.

“The Demon Cult will move.”

“It’s obvious.”

“Then we need to settle at least one side.”

Gwon Geuk’s face became resolute.

The recognition that Hundred Sword Castle is still an ally remains in his mind. But from this moment on, he must abandon such recognition. To survive.

“Strategist.”

“Yes! Alliance Leader.”

“I command by the authority of the Alliance Leader. Move both the Henan branch and Hubei branch. The main headquarters will also need to provide support.”

“I accept your command.”

“There must be no mistakes. Before the Demon Cult stirs! We must definitely! Definitely bring down Hundred Sword Castle. Total annihilation isn’t necessary. Inflict damage so severe they can’t interfere in this war.”

“Yes!”

Shin Gi-sua cupped his fists and rose.

“A-Alliance Leader!”

At that moment, an urgent voice was heard from outside the door.

“What is it?”

“An urgent message! An urgent message has arrived!”

“From Zhejiang?”

“No! From Qinghai!”

At the mention of Qinghai, both men’s faces turned white as if coated with lime.

“Bring it! Immediately!”

The door burst open and the messenger entered with the urgent message. Gwon Geuk snatched the message and roughly tore it open.

Then his eyes widened.

Shin Gi-sua’s face was also frozen solid. Gwon Geuk was the one reading the urgent message, but without having to see its contents, he could guess what was written.

The meaning of an urgent message flying from Qinghai was all too obvious.

“These bastards…”

A groan escaped from Gwon Geuk’s mouth.

But there was no time to be flustered. The longer they delayed, the more casualties would increase.

“Strategist!”

“Yes! Alliance Leader! Right now!”

“Check this first!”

Gwon Geuk held out the urgent message to Shin Gi-sua.

Shin Gi-sua was slightly flustered, but took the urgent message without question. He’s not someone who would tell him to read an urgent message if it only contained obvious content. Shin Gi-sua’s face changed subtly as he read the urgent message.

“The Guangdong Wei Family!”

“Should I say the timing is appropriate…”

Gwon Geuk’s complexion darkened.

The urgent message contained information that Wei Jeong-han and the Guangdong Wei Family members were currently together in Qinghai.

“There’s no room for alternatives.”

“…That’s right.”

Gwon Geuk bit his lip hard.

“We need to buy… buy time.”

“That’s correct.”

Gwon Geuk raised his hand and rubbed his eyelids.

When was the last time he felt such a dirty feeling? Having to naturally order death for acquaintances, for close friends… who would have thought he’d experience this damn situation again?

“Can they buy time?”

“It will be minimal. However…”

“Better than not giving the order?”

“That’s correct.”

“Listen, Strategist.”

“Yes.”

Gwon Geuk looked straight at Shin Gi-sua.

“Wei Jeong-han is Wei Jeong-han, but Wei Yan-ho is someone we absolutely cannot lose. What are the chances of him surviving if he gets involved in the Demon Cult’s delaying tactics?”

“…Depending on how they move, it won’t even be thirty percent.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to order a retreat and use him at full strength?”

“Alliance Leader.”

Shin Gi-sua bit his lip hard.

“Is that the judgment of the Alliance Leader, or the judgment of Gwon Geuk Sa-ma-cheon-se?”

“…”

Gwon Geuk closed his eyes tightly.

Right now he was not Sa-ma-cheon-se but the Alliance Leader of the Righteous Martial Alliance. There was no room for the opinions of the human Sa-ma-cheon-se to interfere.

If he were the human Sa-ma-cheon-se, he would order their escape immediately. Because he doesn’t want to lose Wei Jeong-han and Wei Yan-ho. But the Alliance Leader of the Righteous Martial Alliance couldn’t give such an order.

“That’s why I’m asking, isn’t it?”

“Wei Yan-ho, Wei Jeong-han… and everyone there, each one is a precious military strength. But no military strength is important right now. Delaying the time when the Demon Cult reaches the Central Plains by even one meal period is more important than anything.”

“…I see.”

It was the answer he had expected. The answer he naturally thought he would hear, and therefore the one he wanted to hear even less.

“Yes, that would be right. Then that’s what we must do.”

Gwon Geuk slowly nodded his head.

“Move!”

“Yes!”

Shin Gi-sua rushed outside without another word. The guards stiffened at the sight of Shin Gi-sua’s urgent lightness skill, something they had never seen before.

They could sufficiently guess from the roar that erupted from the Alliance Leader’s office that something serious was happening. But Shin Gi-sua’s urgent appearance was heightening their sense of crisis even more.

Left alone in the Alliance Leader’s office after Shin Gi-sua rushed out, Gwon Geuk slowly sat in his chair and covered his face.

‘Where is the world heading?’

They had already fought one war. Before the aftereffects of that war had even healed, another war was beginning.

This war would be incomparably more brutal than past wars. They already know each other well enough. It’s a war that wouldn’t have started without the confidence of certain victory and the determination to go to the end.

The blades aimed at each other won’t be lowered until one of the two is completely finished.

“The world…”

His breath caught.

Though nothing had changed from a moment ago in the Alliance Leader’s office, the air felt sticky and clinging. It was a sensation he had felt countless times—the heavy air of the battlefield was already coloring this place.

‘Jeong-han, my friend.’

Why did you have to go all the way there?

He had to push his most cherished junior toward death. It couldn’t help but be devastating. Standing above means exactly that. Sometimes you must coldly decide on acts you couldn’t commit as a human. Those who cannot be ruthless have no right to stand above.

Even though it wasn’t a position he had wanted to climb to…

“I mustn’t avoid responsibility.”

Gwon Geuk slowly rose from his seat. He had lamented enough. If so, now it was time for him to move as well.

Soon everyone would know.

That the world from now on is not the world of yesterday.

That the dawn of war’s energy was breaking.