CLS-Chapter 529

Chapter 529:

A scholar must know where he will die.

A person may be judged by how he lived, but also by how he died. Those who choose their death well can leave their name in history through a single death, even if they lived their entire life like trash.

Jang-il knew this fact very well.

But he never forgot another thing as well.

‘They say even rolling in a dung pile is better than the afterlife…’

Jang-il had absolutely no intention of making his name known through a magnificent death. What use is glory gained after death?

This was Jang-il, who considered a lump of cold rice that would be placed on his rice bowl right now more important than the praise that would pour onto his grave after his death.

“That’s why you’re a beggar.”

“…Did you learn mind reading or something?”

“It’s written all over your face.”

“Grrrrrr.”

Normally he would have retorted, but right now he had neither the leisure nor the mental capacity for that. His heart was pounding so hard it seemed like it would jump out through his throat any moment.

Even if he wasn’t a great hero of the world, Jang-il prided himself on being at least a neighborhood hero, but right now he simply couldn’t calm down.

And for good reason.

What he was seeing now appeared to be an ordinary town. There was a slight tension in the air, but it looked like any ordinary town you could find anywhere in the world.

But how could this sight be called ordinary?

‘The Demonic Cult, you crazy bastard!’

Jang-il pressed his right hand firmly against his chest area.

What he was seeing now was the inside of the Demonic Cult’s stronghold. Ordinary, yet never ordinary!

“Huff! Huff! Huff!“

“…Don’t blow that warm breath on the back of my neck.”

“Huff! Huff! Huff!“

“…This is really driving me crazy.”

Seeing Jang-il trembling, Wei Yan-ho scowled deeply. If this kind of guy became a sect leader, the future of the Beggar’s Sect was as clear as fire.

“Beggar, just calm down first.”

Zhuge Wen-in also came to Wei Yan-ho’s aid.

“Do I look like I can calm down right now?”

“With such a small liver, where could you even use it?”

“Damn it, where would a beggar with courage be useful! A good beggar is one who cherishes even a single grain of rice that fell on the ground and lives carefully so as not to starve to death.”

“How admirable.”

Zhuge Wen-in shook his head from side to side.

Apparently, even for Zhuge Wen-in, winning against this beggar with words was not an easy task.

“Everyone be quiet.”

“Yes!”

But he could win with authority.

Wei Jeong-han looked with disapproving eyes at Wei Yan-ho and the others who were whispering and criticizing each other even in this situation.

‘Crazy bastards.’

Objectively speaking, all those gathered here were outstanding talents.

There might be others who could be called talents in this vast martial world, but Wei Yan-ho’s friends were all extraordinary without exception. Their skills and abilities were remarkable, and…

‘Not one of them is normal.’

In vulgar terms, they were all lunatics.

The problem was that these lunatics were currently growing rapidly. Originally, these were people who would lead the future martial world even if left alone.

Wu San was the future abbot that Shaolin treasured like gold and jade, Zhuge Wen-in was the young family head of the Zhuge Family that controlled the world with its intellect. And Jang-il was the Small Beggar of the Beggar’s Sect whose power reached everywhere in the world, and Peng Dao-ji was the legitimate heir of the Hebei Peng Family, unmatched in saber techniques.

If they had grown up without getting entangled with Wei Yan-ho, they would have been the pillars of the world in the future. But now such people were…

“Hey, you beggar bastard! Stop whining already.”

“Are you, who claims to discuss Confucius and Mencius, talking with a rag stuffed in your mouth?”

“Even Confucius and Mencius would have broken their begging bowls if they saw you.”

“I agree. Amitabha.”

“This monk would even make Buddha turn away! How did someone like you come from Shaolin!”

“You’ve said it all, beggar donor?”

“These guys, do you all have ‘beggar’ stuck to your mouths!”

“We’re calling a beggar a beggar, so what’s the problem, beggar.”

At Peng Dao-ji’s words, Jang-il grabbed his head.

“If I’m reborn, I’ll definitely be born into a rich family even if I die!”

“A rich family would be a rich family. A house that raises pigs wouldn’t be poor, after all.”

“What did you say, man?”

Wei Jeong-han shook his head back and forth.

Those brilliant future pillars had all been ruined. If these bastards ended up holding power like this, what would become of the martial world?

Moreover, the worse news was… these guys were getting stronger.

It might sound nonsensical, but Wei Yan-ho was actually a very excellent teacher. In terms of ability to teach people, Wei Jeong-han couldn’t even match Wei Yan-ho’s toenail dirt.

Why?

Because his personality was terrible.

Wei Yan-ho couldn’t stand seeing others playing around. When Jang-il or Peng Dao-ji showed even the slightest sign of wanting to rest, he would shout “How can you sleep with your skill level!” and lie down himself, using just his toes to poke people and make them train.

Moreover, the way he made them train wasn’t pleasant either. That tongue of his was so skillful that he would scratch people’s pride raw and turn their insides upside down while tormenting them.

‘I’m really glad that’s my son.’

If he weren’t his son, wouldn’t Wei Jeong-han have suffered the same fate? Truth be told, Wei Jeong-han had felt chills down his spine more than once watching the renowned masters of the world getting destroyed and humiliated by Wei Yan-ho.

The fact that that bastard was a child of the Wei Family was infuriating, but if he were a child of another family instead of the Wei Family, it would be terrifying.

In any case, Wei Yan-ho’s friends were building up their strength at a tremendous speed. Comparing when he first saw them to now, it was appropriate to use the phrase “a complete transformation.”

‘Well, those guys have experienced a lot too.’

Thanks to getting entangled with Wei Yan-ho, these were guys who had instantly experienced things that others couldn’t fully experience in a lifetime. It would be stranger if they didn’t grow. Whether in skill or mentally.

However, one thing…

“Ugh! These guys are filthier than the Demonic Cult!”

“Hey, a beggar is calling us filthy.”

“Puhahahahahaha! Beggar bastard.”

If you gain something, you lose something too. While these guys gained abilities and skills, they were losing their character. Who would call these bastards dignified successors of prestigious families? They were neighborhood thugs.

“Shut up, you bastards!”

“Yes, Great Hero Wei.”

“We’re sorry.”

Still, it was fortunate that his authority still worked on them. Recently, he’d seen them sneer and ignore even what the Dark King said… Should he be grateful that he’s Wei Yan-ho’s father when seeing things like this?

“But… there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly worth being wary of.”

At Zhuge Wen-in’s words, Wei Jeong-han nodded.

‘They really took everyone out.’

Wei Yan-ho was right. The Demonic Cult was really engaging in total war. Originally, total war means utilizing all available personnel. In that case, you should leave behind able-bodied men to grow crops and handle supplies with the front lines in mind, but they didn’t need supplies.

An army, yet not an army.

By martial world standards it was a large army, but by worldly standards it was just a handful. Even without resorting to plundering, they could be maintained with just the provisions obtained by defeating enemies and a little requisitioning from civilians.

So they took out everyone who could exert strength. He had seen several people since earlier, but not a single young able-bodied man.

“Is it completely empty?”

“How could that be?”

Wei Yan-ho shook his head at Wei Jeong-han’s question.

“There must definitely be those who didn’t follow along. There would be no reason to bring along old demons who are on their last legs and make them die on the way. But well, even if a few such fellows remain, it won’t be a problem.”

“Hmm…”

Wei Jeong-han nodded.

Even now, he wasn’t certain whether this was really the right thing to do. Since Wei Yan-ho said so, and Zhuge Wen-in and Jang-il didn’t particularly oppose it, he was just following along. Of course, if he said this out loud, Zhuge Wen-in and Jang-il would foam at the mouth asking when they didn’t oppose it.

Even so, Wei Jeong-han felt a strange excitement.

They had always been on defense.

Since he came of age, the Demonic Cult had been the attacking side, and the Central Plains had been in the position of defending. They had always desperately defended against their attacks.

Probably among the current Central Plains people, they would be the only ones who had entered the Demonic Cult’s main stronghold. That fact was heating Wei Jeong-han’s blood.

‘Not bad.’

Switching from a position of always defending to an offensive had meaning.

“Wen-in.”

“Yes, Great Hero Wei.”

“Will it be effective?”

“Of course.”

Zhuge Wen-in had long since regained his composure.

“It’s not simply about tying down their feet. They have always comfortably dealt with the Central Plains. They attacked as far as their strength reached, and when their strength seemed insufficient, they retreated. There could be no burden in a war where you fight as much as you decide to and retreat as you decide to.”

“That would be so.”

“If their main stronghold burns and they realize that we can charge into Xinjiang at any time… they too will feel burden. Burden makes people’s hands and feet heavy. We may not be able to make them reach the point of having no place to return to, but we can make their place of return uncomfortable. This matter won’t stop at simply buying time, but will become a move that changes the overall situation.”

When Zhuge Wen-in spoke this far, Wei Jeong-han’s heart became somewhat more at ease.

“What would the Divine Calculator have said if he heard about this? Would he have said it was admirable?”

“…He would have said we were crazy.”

Wei Jeong-han looked at Zhuge Wen-in with blank eyes.

“But, but you said it would be effective?”

“It will be effective, but the fact that it’s a crazy thing doesn’t change. Think about what would happen if we burn this place and the Demonic Cult’s main force returns.”

“Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

“What about us?”

“…”

Zhuge Wen-in giggled as he laughed.

“If we do well, we might have to run away to the Western Regions to avoid those bastards. The rage of Demonic Cult members whose sacred ground was burned would make mortal enemies seem like drinking buddies. They’d probably want to strip our bones and flesh and enshrine a piece in each room of their house to spit on every time they pass by.”

“…You’re giving very good encouraging words before we even start the operation. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Wei Jeong-han sighed and turned to look at Wei Yan-ho.

The decision wasn’t his. It was Yan-ho’s.

“What will you do?”

“What do you mean what will I do? We’ve come this far, so we have to go through with it.”

“Can you handle the aftermath?”

“Master gave me some good advice.”

“What advice?”

Wei Yan-ho grinned.

“Tomorrow’s problems will be handled by tomorrow’s me. So today’s me just needs to go through with it.”

“…Your master isn’t normal either.”

“Exactly.”

Wei Yan-ho jumped up from his seat.

“There’s nothing good about dragging out time, so let’s start now.”

“Damn it! Fine, let’s see if we die. You all definitely memorized your missions, right?”

“…Yes.”

The response came back somewhat unsatisfying, but Wei Jeong-han deliberately ignored that fact.

The burning heart of a warrior risking his life to strike at the enemy’s heart?

He didn’t want that kind of thing.

“Just don’t cause trouble, you little bastards.”

“But this is something where we have to cause trouble, so what do we do if you tell us not to!”

“Oh, that’s right?”

Wei Jeong-han made a tearful face and spoke again.

“Cause trouble well.”

“…”

It was a desperate statement.