CLS-Chapter 462

Chapter 462:

“Young Master Wei.”

“…….”

“Young Master Wei, you must get up.”

Wei Yan-ho let out a deep sigh with his eyes still closed.

‘How long is that woman planning to stay here?’

At first, he had thought that way. If someone stayed by his side to handle various errands, his life would become a little more comfortable. But that was a huge miscalculation.

Wei Yan-ho realized something. He had an extremely individualistic nature. For him to fully enjoy his laziness, he needed his own unwavering personal space.

But that woman was someone who thought nothing of barging into his space with muddy feet and causing a ruckus.

Realizing that his choice had been terribly wrong, Wei Yan-ho had tried to appease U-il with very kind words, but U-il had smiled gently and responded like this:

“Even beasts know gratitude. If I were to leave Young Master now, I would be admitting that I’m worse than a beast. I have lived like a beast until now. So now I want to try living like a human.”

Wei Yan-ho had never experienced such a firm rejection in his entire life.

Moreover, the conviction contained in that voice made it impossible for him to say anything else.

Still, Wei Yan-ho had something to rely on.

Namely, Wei Jeong-han.

To Wei Yan-ho, Wei Jeong-han was a father who interfered with everything Wei Yan-ho did. Wasn’t he a loving father who would foam at the mouth and rush over to interfere whenever Wei Yan-ho seemed like he might become even slightly comfortable?

There was no way Wei Jeong-han would just sit back and watch Wei Yan-ho gain an errand runner. He would obviously interfere by any means necessary.

That’s what he had expected, but…….

‘Why is he leaving it alone?’

He knew that there were exceptions to everything in the world. But wasn’t it too coincidental that such an exception would occur at this moment, with this matter?

Contrary to Wei Yan-ho’s prediction, Wei Jeong-han did not chase U-il away. Instead, he seemed to find So Ryeo-gun endearing.

Seeing Wei Jeong-han patting So Ryeo-gun, hadn’t Wei Yan-ho almost gotten hit by a blade after saying, ‘When your own children were adorable, you abandoned them to go on martial journeys, but you’re generous to other people’s offspring’?

‘Why are you being generous in useless places!’

Of course, from a father’s perspective, it would seem better to have someone, anyone, attached to Wei Yan-ho’s side rather than leaving him alone…… But still, did it make sense to keep a former information agent from the Zhuge Family by his son’s side?

In the end, Wei Yan-ho had no choice but to let U-il loiter around him.

“You need to get up.”

“……Why?”

“The Heavenly Alliance Leader has arrived.”

“The Heavenly Alliance Leader?”

Come to think of it, he had said such a person would be coming soon.

Wei Yan-ho waved his hand dismissively.

“I don’t need to go out. If I go to such gatherings, I’ll just be in the way. Father would tell me not to come too, wouldn’t he?”

“That’s not it—that person is coming here.”

“What?”

Wei Yan-ho’s eyes widened.

Why would that person come here?

“To the vicinity?”

“No. He’s coming to meet Young Master.”

“……The Tang Family head is what, and he’s coming to meet me?”

“They’re coming together.”

“Ughhhhh.”

Wei Yan-ho held his head in his hands. It felt like the entire world was tormenting him.

He had to meet them. Of course he had to meet them. There were things he needed to find out.

But it didn’t necessarily have to be right now, did it?

Generally, those in high positions tend to be particular about various procedures.

Someone at the level of the Heavenly Alliance Leader would first meet the family head, and then meet various other people. It should have taken three or four days before Wei Yan-ho’s turn came.

So why were they coming straight here?

‘They said he wasn’t an ordinary person…….’

Not in the sense of being extraordinary, but in the sense of being peculiar.

“You need to prepare quickly.”

“Never mind.”

Wei Yan-ho yawned as he sat up. If the Tang Family head and the Heavenly Alliance Leader were both coming here together, it was hopeless to try to avoid them and sleep. So he should at least be awake.

“Could you get me a glass of water?”

“Young Master, you should wash…….”

“Those people probably won’t expect that much anyway. It’s not like I have any reason to make a good impression on them.”

U-il wanted to mention basic human courtesy, but had to admit it was already too late to wash. In the end, U-il brought forward what she had prepared.

“What’s this?”

“I thought this might happen, so I brought a wet towel. At least wipe away your eye crust.”

“Thank you.”

Though even that was bothersome for Wei Yan-ho, he couldn’t ignore the thoughtfulness of the person who had prepared it. After roughly scrubbing his face with the towel, Wei Yan-ho slowly got up from his seat.

‘It’s kind of them to come directly.’

It was bothersome, but it was something that had to be done. If so, it was better to get it over with quickly.

Wei Yan-ho roughly threw on his clothes and walked outside. If he hadn’t known, that would be one thing, but knowing that adults were coming and still staying holed up in his room would be impolite.

“I’ve become quite human too.”

Wei Yan-ho chuckled.

In the past, he would have been rolling around clutching his blanket, trying to hold out just a little longer somehow. Whether this meant Wei Yan-ho had matured or simply given up quickly was unclear, but in any case, it would appear as a positive change to others.

As Wei Yan-ho stepped outside the guest quarters, he could see people approaching from afar. Led by two people at the front, many others were following them.

A disheveled-looking man he was seeing for the first time, and Tang Cheon-gun. Seeing the two at the front, Wei Yan-ho’s gaze fixed on the disheveled man.

‘Hmm…….’

They had called him Jeon Geom (Battle Sword), and it was exactly as the name suggested.

The man gave off a sharp, blade-like aura.

‘He’s a bit different from the Sword Immortal or Sword Sovereign?’

In terms of having established themselves through swordsmanship, there were similar aspects, but while the aura felt from those two people had been sharp yet orderly, this man’s aura felt like an unpredictable bomb.

A feeling like he might draw his sword and cut down someone nearby at any moment?

The thought occurred to him that such a person was indeed sitting in the position of Heavenly Alliance Leader.

He wouldn’t be lacking in ability, but it felt like his temperament didn’t match. Like a wild beast that should be released into the wilderness was caged up? It was like seeing a wild animal that could break out of its cage by itself sitting obediently inside.

‘Though I can’t judge a person based on appearance and atmosphere alone.’

Wei Yan-ho looked at Cheok Su-gwang with interest. This was a type he had never seen before.

And his actions were also something he had never seen before.

Paaaaang!

Wei Yan-ho’s head tilted slightly to the side. A sharp fist wind swept past where Wei Yan-ho’s head had been just moments before.

“Ah, no!”

Zhuge Yeom and Tang Cheon-gun looked back and forth between Wei Yan-ho and Cheok Su-gwang in bewilderment. Cheok Su-gwang had launched a fist wind without asking or investigating anything first.

If Wei Yan-ho hadn’t dodged in time, it could have been serious.

“Hooo?”

Cheok Su-gwang seemed surprised that Wei Yan-ho had avoided his fist wind, while Wei Yan-ho was clicking his tongue.

“You seem to enjoy picking fights.”

“I don’t pick them with just anyone.”

“I think I should take that as a compliment, but I don’t feel particularly good about it?”

“It’s a good thing. Anger toward an opponent makes the sword sharper.”

“Hmm, I have some disagreement with that. My master said that it’s important to maintain an unshakeable, immovable mind regardless of who the opponent is.”

“Those are correct words.”

Cheok Su-gwang nodded. But the words coming from his mouth were completely different from his actions.

“But humans can’t be like that. Do you think that’s possible for you?”

“I don’t know if it’s possible, but one thing is certain. I can’t do it.”

“Exactly.”

Cheok Su-gwang’s smile grew even more pleased.

‘Idealistic yet realistic.’

He was a likeable fellow. Usually, young ones born in prestigious families had a tendency to spout unrealistic words as truth due to the bookish knowledge crammed into them from childhood. But this kid understood reality while accepting his master’s teachings.

“So you’ll follow your master’s teachings obediently even knowing they’re wrong?”

“Rather than following, how should I put it…….”

Wei Yan-ho shrugged his shoulders.

“My master said that if you try to draw a dragon, at least you’ll get a loach. If you try to draw a loach from the start, you’ll get an earthworm.”

“That makes sense. But…….”

Seureureureu.

Cheok Su-gwang slowly drew his sword.

“Ah, no.”

This made Tang Cheon-gun even more flustered.

‘What kind of person is this guy?’

It was Tang Cheon-gun who had thought to embarrass Wei Yan-ho. But there were limits to everything—if word spread that the Heavenly Alliance Leader had drawn his sword upon seeing a young junior, what would happen to the Heavenly Alliance’s reputation?

“Alliance Leader!”

“Don’t interfere.”

“But…….”

Cheok Su-gwang waved his free hand dismissively.

“Warriors speak with swords. I don’t know how to get to know someone through words. If you want to know an opponent, crossing swords is the best way.”

Wei Yan-ho replied with a blank expression.

“That seems rude to people who use other weapons or fight barehanded…….”

“Then they can respond with their own weapons.”

“You don’t understand jokes, do you.”

Wei Yan-ho clicked his tongue.

He didn’t particularly like such inflexible people. Baek Mu-han had a terrible personality, but at least he was someone who would respond when you talked to him. That’s why he liked him too.

“Are you prepared to receive my sword?”

“In the past, I would have run away.”

Wei Yan-ho stretched.

“But after coming out into the martial world and rolling around here and there, I learned something. There are people in the world who won’t understand no matter how much you talk to them, and sometimes the most convenient method is ultimately to suppress them with force.”

“Suppress with force…….”

Cheok Su-gwang chuckled quietly.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Yes. You’re the Heavenly Alliance Leader.”

“That’s what describes me…….”

“Ah, never mind.”

Wei Yan-ho waved his hand with an annoyed expression.

“For someone who lived on battlefields, you talk too much. Whether we do this or that, you’re going to fight anyway. Then words seem unnecessary. If we have to fight, let’s fight first and talk afterward.”

Cheok Su-gwang quietly looked at Wei Yan-ho.

His eyes grew coldly calm.

“You’re right. I’m learning from a junior today. It seems I’ve gotten fat around the belly from putting on airs in high positions. Fighting doesn’t need words.”

Cheok Su-gwang pointed his sword at Wei Yan-ho.

“I’ve heard much about your reputation. Some say you’ll be the next generation’s greatest under heaven. Let this one who failed to become the current generation’s greatest ask for instruction from the future greatest under heaven.”

“Please go easy on me.”

Neither of them performed formal salutes. As if courtesy was unnecessary, the two began emanating sharp fighting spirit toward each other. People around them hastily stepped back from the suddenly erupting martial contest.