CLS-Chapter 525

Chapter 525:

“Do you believe it?”

“It’s a bit ambiguous…”

Jang-il glanced at Yeom Mong with a dubious expression.

“Still, he wouldn’t have been idle for twenty years.”

“Just because he prepared for twenty years doesn’t mean there’s anything special about it. I’ve never heard anything particular about him either.”

“But he did prepare.”

At Wei Yan-ho’s words, Jang-il shrugged his shoulders.

“Believe it or not, that’s your choice, but I’m somewhat negative about the idea that long preparation equals good preparation. Doesn’t that depend on ability too?”

“Still, if he prepared for a long time, something would be different.”

“Then would you follow a plan that person prepared for twenty years, or a plan that the strategist prepared in three shijin?”

“I’d choose the strategist.”

“Me too.”

“Me too, the strategist.”

“Amitabha.”

Veins bulged on Yeom Mong’s forehead.

‘They can hear everything, these damned bastards.’

If they were going to hold a meeting from a distance, they should at least lower their voices. With everyone having learned martial arts, what kind of secret meeting is this at that distance? Even without deliberately listening, everything could be heard.

But he couldn’t show that he was listening either.

Yeom Mong wondered if this wasn’t just blatant mockery.

“So what do we do? Say we won’t do it?”

“…That would be a bit burdensome.”

“Why?”

“Wouldn’t it be a bit pitiful? He did make a proposal, and to flatly reject it would be a bit… There’s etiquette to consider.”

Jang-il glanced at Yeom Mong again. Yeom Mong was gazing at the distant sky, chanting sutras.

‘Namu Amitabha Buddha.’

He should probably seek Buddha’s mercy, but the sad thing was that among those gossiping bastards was also a Shaolin monk. How did even a Shaolin monk end up hanging around with such people and become like this?

Whether those bastards were special, or if the atmosphere of the martial world had changed greatly during the twenty years he had been away from it.

Either way, it was truly sad.

“Ahem!“

Just then, Wei Yan-ho cleared his throat and casually approached Yeom Mong.

“So, have you all decided?”

“We talked about it.”

“Speak up.”

“Could we hear the plan first?”

“…Hm?”

Wei Yan-ho grinned.

“It’s a bit much to follow blindly, but it’s also a bit much to say we won’t follow… If possible, we’d like to hear how good a plan you have before deciding.”

Yeom Mong turned his head weakly and looked at Wei Jeong-han. Wei Jeong-han, receiving Yeom Mong’s gaze, was nodding his head.

“Senior, I’d like to hear it too.”

“…”

They were hopeless.

These bastards were hopeless.

By temperament, Yeom Mong wanted to shout at them all to get lost immediately. But there was a reason he couldn’t do that.

‘The secret message came to me.’

If they were going to entrust something to these people, there would be no need to send the secret message specifically to Yeom Mong. Wei Jeong-han was also someone who could receive secret messages. Yeom Mong’s role ended with delivering the secret message. But the fact that they sent it specifically to Yeom Mong meant…

It was Divine Beggar’s instruction to somehow coax and cajole these damned bastards into being useful. So even though his insides were burning up, he couldn’t drive them away.

Yeom Mong nodded with tears in his eyes.

“…Everyone gather around.”

Swoooosh!

The map unfolded with a light sound.

“Now, can you see?”

“Well, we have eyes.”

“…”

This damned bastard wouldn’t let a single word pass.

He had to nitpick and drag out even words that could just be passed over.

Yeom Mong took a deep breath.

‘Don’t get drawn in.’

He already knew Wei Yan-ho’s personality was like this. He also already knew that this personality caused chaos wherever he went.

The only problem was that there was an enormous difference between knowing something with your head and experiencing it with your body.

‘Three characters of patience can avoid even murder.’

After taking a couple of deep breaths, Yeom Mong began his explanation without even looking at Wei Yan-ho.

“Now, look. This is a map connecting Xinjiang and Qinghai.”

“Yes.”

“There are roughly three ways to enter the Central Plains from Xinjiang. One is taking the official road you all came in on, another is crossing the Wei River and entering Sichuan directly, and the last is making a detour through Mongolia.”

Wei Yan-ho raised his hand high.

“What?”

“No, I don’t understand – isn’t a road something you just walk on? There must be tens of thousands of ways to get to the Central Plains.”

“That’s right.”

“Then why are there only three roads?”

“Just as I said. If you just walk wherever your feet take you, that becomes a road. But to move such a large army, you need well-maintained roads. That’s the only way to save even a little time.”

“What’s your evidence?”

“They invaded by road last time too.”

“Perfect.”

Wei Yan-ho nodded.

Yeom Mong sighed deeply and opened his mouth.

“But looking at the direction they’re heading, the road they’ve chosen is the path through Qinghai to Gansu. If they head straight along this road?”

Wei Jeong-han answered.

“It would be Luoyang.”

“Exactly. Luoyang, where the Righteous Martial Alliance’s headquarters is located. Previously, the Demonic Cult fought by steadily pushing through from Sichuan into the Central Plains. But this time, it seems they intend to push straight into the core.”

“Hmm.”

Wei Jeong-han’s face hardened.

There were pros and cons. It was merely a difference in approach. But the burden of the Righteous Martial Alliance headquarters being targeted was considerable. The clear official road extending to Luoyang painfully pierced Wei Jeong-han’s eyes.

“You knew in advance where the Demonic Cult would go?”

“I didn’t know.”

“Then how did you prepare?”

“Twenty years is a long time.”

“…Yes?”

“I prepared not only these three most likely roads, but also five or six other smaller paths, all of them.”

“Whoa…”

Wei Yan-ho looked at Yeom Mong with new eyes. He had thought that Yeom Mong had just wasted twenty years monitoring the Demonic Cult, but it seemed he had been making steady preparations.

“The Righteous Martial Alliance must know too, right?”

“Of course. No matter how diligently I prepare, I can’t do anything without funding. The Alliance Leader provided that funding and manpower.”

“Hmm, so they had something to trust in. No wonder.”

Yeom Mong wore a bitter smile.

‘There is something to trust in.’

But it wouldn’t be Yeom Mong’s trap. Gwon Geuk and Divine Beggar knew the Demonic Cult too well. Even if Yeom Mong prepared a trap with all his might, it wouldn’t hold back the Demonic Cult for more than one shijin. That much wouldn’t be enough to influence the overall situation.

At least half a day.

They needed to buy more than half a day’s time. The person who needed to play that role was Wei Yan-ho.

Though he didn’t seem to know it yet.

‘I need to rope them in here.’

Yeom Mong continued his explanation with a determination to win.

“Look carefully. They’re currently using this official road. Right now it’s just desolate wasteland, but if they go a bit further, they’ll encounter rocky terrain. Then they’ll inevitably have to pass through here.”

Wei Jeong-han’s eyes lit up.

“Ghost Spear Valley.”

“That’s right.”

Wei Yan-ho asked Wei Jeong-han.

“What’s Ghost Spear Valley?”

“Didn’t you see it too? That valley with the sheer cliffs stretching along the path here.”

“Ah!”

Wei Yan-ho nodded.

“There, that was pretty impressive. I’d never seen anything like it. But what are you planning to do there?”

“It’s terrain where one person can stop ten thousand.”

“Right. But that one person dies too. Because they can’t escape.”

“I have no intention of stopping them.”

“Yes?”

Yeom Mong grinned.

“People don’t need to stop them. We just need to block the road.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve planted explosives on both sides of the cliff. Just detonating them at the right time will cut off their feet and buy us a day’s time. That alone is sufficient. How about it? Will you help me?”

Yeom Mong smiled with satisfaction.

‘They can’t refuse to help.’

From Wei Yan-ho’s perspective, this was absolutely a profitable deal. It wasn’t particularly dangerous, and there was no need to exert himself physically. He just had to move as Yeom Mong directed. Then he could remain as a hero who caught the Demonic Cult’s ankle.

It was an opportunity to gain both practical benefits and fame simultaneously. Who would refuse such an opportunity?

But Yeom Mong didn’t know.

What kind of person Wei Yan-ho was.

“I don’t want to go.”

“Huh?”

Yeom Mong’s eyes widened like lanterns.

‘Did I mishear?’

“What did you say?”

“I said I’m not going.”

Wei Yan-ho waved his hand dismissively.

“Why? Why won’t you go! Isn’t this too easy a task for you!”

“That’s exactly why I don’t need to go.”

“…What?”

Wei Yan-ho picked at his ear and continued.

“It doesn’t seem like a particularly difficult task, so I don’t think I need to follow you there. That seems like something Uncle can do just fine with his subordinates.”

“You’re refusing the opportunity to achieve merit?”

“Hehe, I may not look it, but I’m quite an upright person, so I don’t covet others’ achievements. Achieve lots of merit.”

Upright?

With that bent appearance?

“Then what are you planning to do?”

“Well…”

Wei Yan-ho seemed to ponder something, then scratched his head vigorously.

“Um, I was thinking…”

“Yes?”

“Where do you think the safest place in the world is right now?”

“…Safest place?”

What was this about? Safest place?

“With the Demonic Cult running rampant, where could there be a safe place in the world!”

“I think I know.”

“Where?”

“Here.”

“…Huh?”

“Here, right here.”

Wei Yan-ho pointed down with his finger.

“Here?”

“Yes.”

Wei Yan-ho grinned.

“Since all the Demonic Cult bastards are rushing toward the Central Plains, wouldn’t this Xinjiang land be the safest?”

Huh?

Now that he mentioned it, that’s right?

There would be no martial artists invading Xinjiang without the Demonic Cult, and the demon practitioners rushing toward the Central Plains with full force wouldn’t leave any forces here.

Xinjiang had become the only land in the world where war wouldn’t break out.

It was a reverse thinking that had never been considered even once.

“Th, then?”

“Hehe.”

Wei Yan-ho grinned.

“Though born as a man, how could I refuse war? But retreating in front of enemy lines doesn’t look good either. Since it’s come to this, I’ll pacify Xinjiang, so Uncle, please achieve your goals.”

Pacify Xinjiang.

“Hey, you bastard! It’s already a no-man’s land, what’s there to pacify!”

The corner of Wei Yan-ho’s mouth curled up in a grin.

Everyone who saw that smile began to tremble with anxiety.

‘What’s he trying to do?’

‘Why is that bastard acting like that again, things were going well.’

‘Every time that bastard makes that face, a major incident happens…’

“Amitabha, Amitabha, Namu Guanshiyin Bosal. Amitabha.”

Mu-san began continuously chanting Buddhist invocations.

“So the order to hold them back came from Strategist Grandfather, right?”

“Th, that’s right.”

“Then let’s hold them back properly. I know a way to cut off their legs entirely. Hihihihi.”

Watching Wei Yan-ho laugh as if he couldn’t contain his joy, even Yeom Mong began to tremble with anxiety.

Just what was this bastard planning to do?

It was the moment when the true exploits of Radiant Martial Sovereign, who would save the world from turmoil, genuinely began.

Of course, it was slightly different from history.

Just slightly.