CLS-Chapter 184

Chapter 184

“Ah, no!”

Wei Jeong-han looked at Sima Cheonse in alarm.

‘There he goes again!’

The Alliance Leader who leads the massive organization called the Righteous Alliance should be shrewd about practical matters, quick with calculations, calm and sharp.

That’s what people usually think.

But there’s an aspect people overlook—the position of Righteous Alliance Leader was actually a role with nothing particularly important to do.

While the Righteous Alliance supposedly represented the martial world, it didn’t exercise actual dominance. Apart from mediating disputes when they arose and nurturing promising young talents, there really wasn’t much to do.

Of course, if something like the Ming Cult invaded, he would take command and engage in actual duties.

Unlike kings who must think about countless matters, worry and gather opinions to make optimal decisions, the position of Righteous Alliance Leader didn’t particularly require such calculating aspects.

Then what was most necessary for a Righteous Alliance Leader?

It was in harmony with people.

How many influential figures could he win over and get them to participate in the Alliance’s affairs?

In a loosely structured organization like the Righteous Alliance, how extensive the leader’s network was and how many people he could mobilize was more important.

After all, Cho Hyeon could handle the practical work well enough.

That’s why Sima Cheonse, called a legendary Alliance Leader, was more chivalrous, more humane, and also more… than anyone Wei Jeong-han knew.

‘Impulsive.’

Sima Cheonse was someone who believed that martial artists could only truly know each other by crossing fists.

In the past, Wei Jeong-han had heard those very words.

‘And I was tempted.’

That magnificently bold martial prowess, the endlessly flowing internal energy, and that simple nature that never showed arrogance despite victory or defeat.

It might not work elsewhere, but in the martial world, it was an irresistible personality. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the most people in history had been charmed by that personality and volunteered to become members of the Righteous Alliance.

The problem was that the one who had just heard those words was his son.

Whether looking at age or position in the martial world, his son wasn’t at a level to duel one-on-one with the Alliance Leader. Considering the age difference, it wouldn’t be strange at all if people said the Alliance Leader was being foolish.

Well, not caring about such face-saving matters was also part of Sima Cheonse’s charm.

‘The bigger problem is that it’s my son who heard those words.’

Wei Jeong-han couldn’t step forward and watched the situation with an anxious heart.

If it was the Wei Yan-ho he knew, things would never go smoothly.

Indeed…

Wei Yan-ho faced Sima Cheonse and grinned.

“I don’t want to.”

“…Huh?”

Sima Cheonse looked at Wei Yan-ho with a somewhat bewildered expression.

“Don’t want to?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Why don’t you want to? Don’t you know who I am?”

“You’re the Alliance Leader.”

“But you still refuse?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Sima Cheonse looked at Wei Yan-ho with an incredulous expression.

Who was he?

Sima Cheonse, Sima Cheonse!

Even setting aside the facade of being the Righteous Alliance Leader, when you mentioned Fist Supreme Sima Cheonse, he was a martial artist with no dispute as the current greatest fist fighter under heaven.

Countless martial artists dreamed of exchanging even a single blow with him.

About one-tenth of the people visiting the Righteous Alliance now were those who knocked on the Alliance’s doors hoping to request a duel with Sima Cheonse, even knowing they had absolutely no chance.

Receiving teaching from a master superior to oneself was what all martial artists yearned for.

Yet here was a young man at the age when he should be most burning with such aspirations, refusing a duel with Sima Cheonse.

Sima Cheonse felt oddly hurt in his pride.

“Why don’t you want to? Why?”

“Because there’s nothing good about having a duel.”

“…Why is there nothing good about it?”

Gong Mu-jin looked at Sima Cheonse with a pitying expression.

‘I was also defeated by that.’

While everyone agreed that Sima Cheonse was a peerless martial artist who had weathered through chaotic times…

‘That damn kid wasn’t around during those chaotic times.’

No matter where you searched in the world, there couldn’t be another human like that. Especially someone like Sima Cheonse who had lived through fierce battlefields would never have encountered such a lazy person.

With Sima Cheonse’s way of thinking, it would be difficult to acknowledge the existence of someone who wouldn’t duel just because it was bothersome.

“It’s tiring, exhausting, and painful.”

“But don’t you gain something from it?”

“What is there to gain from fighting? It only wears down your body.”

Sima Cheonse’s mouth slowly fell open.

“You say there’s nothing to gain from me offering you a duel?”

“Yes.”

“Even though I’m the one offering?”

“Yes.”

“…I’m Sima Cheonse, you know?”

“Yesss.”

Wei Yan-ho leaned back in his chair and stretched.

“Do you think the number of people who would pack their bags and come running if I offered them a duel right now is just one or two?”

“Then if you duel with those people who want it, the Alliance Leader would be happy, those people would be happy—killing two birds with one stone, getting the pheasant and the egg too. So there’s no need to particularly duel with someone like me.”

For a moment, Sima Cheonse became like a mute who had eaten honey.

That’s… that’s true. The words are right, but…

‘But still, I’m the Alliance Leader!’

Not asserting authority and being unpretentious is good, but still, when someone of Alliance Leader status offers a duel, shouldn’t there be a reaction like ‘Oh, wonderful!’ with sparkling eyes?

But this—it’s not even like offering candy and getting ‘I don’t really like candy.’

“But still, I’m the Alliance Leader, so when I suggest having a match, shouldn’t there be some positive reaction?”

Pffft!

Wei Jeong-han violently spat out his tea while trying to soothe his frustrated feelings.

If Gong Mu-jin hadn’t reached out to retrieve all the flying tea water, a disaster would have occurred with all the food getting soaked.

‘What kind of combination is this?’

When Wei Yan-ho, who found everything in the world bothersome despite his age, met Alliance Leader Sima Cheonse, who was excessively honest and unpretentious despite his position, their conversation went beyond climbing mountains to digging into the ground.

“It’s not good, so how can I say it’s good?”

“Why isn’t it good?!”

“Because it’s not good, that’s why I say it’s not good!”

“Grrrr.”

Sima Cheonse shook his head vigorously.

“No way. If I say let’s do it, you have to do it! You must absolutely duel with me.”

“But I said I don’t want to.”

“Even if you don’t want to, if I say I want to, you have to do it.”

“Where is there such a law?”

“If you don’t like it, why don’t you become the Alliance Leader! If there weren’t benefits like this, would I be crazy enough to hold this bothersome position?”

“…That’s persuasive.”

Wei Jeong-han unconsciously checked if anyone was outside the door. It was an expression of his hope that this conversation hadn’t reached other people’s ears.

Wei Yan-ho was one thing, but the Alliance Leader’s dignity was rapidly being damaged.

“Say you’ll do it!”

“I don’t want to.”

“Don’t be like that and let’s have a match!”

“I said I don’t want to!”

“If you have one match, I’ll grant you one thing you want!”

“What I want is not to fight.”

“Gahhh!”

Sima Cheonse poured alcohol into a cup as if frustrated, then downed it in one gulp.

“Wei Jeong-han!”

“Yes! Alliance Leader!”

“Please persuade your son somehow! He won’t fight!”

Why are the sparks flying this way?

“He is my child, but it’s been a long time since he left my hands…”

“Grr.”

Wei Jeong-han glanced at Wei San-ho and gave him a hint with his eyes.

Then Wei San-ho nodded.

“Alliance Leader.”

“Mm?”

As Wei San-ho spoke, Sima Cheonse turned his gaze to Wei San-ho.

Wei Jeong-han also looked at Wei San-ho with eyes full of expectation.

Wasn’t Wei San-ho the one person who could control Wei Yan-ho?

“No matter how much Yan-ho has learned martial arts, he’s still young. Looking at his position in the martial world and his actual skill, I think a duel between Yan-ho and the Alliance Leader doesn’t realistically match.”

Wei Jeong-han’s eyes widened.

That’s not what I meant for you to say!

But Wei San-ho was pressuring Sima Cheonse with a defiant look that said, ‘What if my younger brother gets hurt? Will you take responsibility?’

Pressure, indeed.

No matter that it was defiance through looks, a situation was unfolding where both sons of the Guangdong Wei Family were rebelling against the Alliance Leader together.

And the head of the Guangdong Wei Family facing this shocking situation felt his soul leaving his mouth as he slumped in his chair.

‘Oh, my fate.’

These children don’t consider their father’s position at all. Where were such great men born?

“Young Hero Wei San-ho is thinking wrongly about that.”

“…Pardon?”

Gong Mu-jin smiled and said,

“The Wei Yan-ho I know is fully capable of matching strengths with the Alliance Leader. I mean it’s not to the point where a proper match couldn’t take place, regardless of victory or defeat.”

Wei San-ho’s eyes widened.

“Is that true?”

“Haven’t you already heard all the circumstances? Look with the eyes of a martial artist, not the eyes of an older brother. Young Hero Wei Yan-ho is already a martial artist who has left Young Hero Wei San-ho’s hands.”

Wei San-ho’s eyes narrowed.

“Is that true?”

“No. That old man is bluffing.”

“Answer properly.”

“Ugh…”

Wei Yan-ho made a groaning sound.

He had no intention of claiming to be weaker than his brother, but if he said yes here, it was all too obvious what response would come back.

“It seems to be true. Then show me once.”

“No… Brother, there are many ways to show you, but there’s no need to show it by dueling with that person. If you want to see that much, I’ll do it tomorrow…”

“Stop.”

Wei San-ho cut off Wei Yan-ho’s words.

“I understand what you’re trying to say, but if you have such ability, then refusing the Alliance Leader’s duel proposal is also against etiquette. Especially since the Alliance Leader has been very considerate of your circumstances and has bestowed many favors on Father as well. He’s someone who even offered to be your godfather when you were young—are you going to refuse such a person’s request for your own personal comfort?”

“…No.”

Wei Yan-ho’s shoulders shrank.

“People must know gratitude and know courtesy. If you don’t know gratitude and courtesy, you’re worse than a beast. I don’t think you’re a beast. Or are you?”

“You’re right.”

Wei Yan-ho nodded helplessly.

“Then you should answer properly.”

“Duel… *sigh*, I’ll duel.”

Wei Yan-ho looked at Sima Cheonse with burning eyes.

Here was someone who came to bother him while he was eating well, and not content with that, made him exercise at this late hour.

How could he look at him with kind eyes?

“Let’s have a proper match!”

Sima Cheonse left one bewildered comment about the rapidly changed situation.

“…Did I do something wrong just now?”

Wei Jeong-han and Gong Mu-jin sighed together.

“Let’s go!”

Wei Yan-ho sprang up from his seat. Strike while the iron is hot, as they say.

“Then let’s go to my training ground. There are no people there, so we can play to our heart’s content.”

Gong Mu-jin smiled bitterly.

‘I hope you can play, Alliance Leader.’

Sima Cheonse would probably experience the most absurd thing in his lifetime today.