CLS-Chapter 496

Chapter 496:

“It was Hundred Sword Castle.”

“Yes, it was Hundred Sword Castle.”

Sagan didn’t seem particularly surprised.

“Did you expect it?”

“I couldn’t really imagine anywhere else. Who other than Hundred Sword Castle would pull off something like that? While Righteous Martial Alliance and Heavenly Alliance are stakeholders, they don’t have the capability to orchestrate such a scheme.”

“You understand well.”

In terms of raw power, neither Righteous Martial Alliance nor Heavenly Alliance would fall short of Hundred Sword Castle. However, both forces had the limitation of being alliances.

Alliances inevitably involve many people in decision-making. There are alliance leaders and alliance heads, but they cannot decide everything alone. The true owners of the power they must mobilize are separate entities.

When someone attacks, there isn’t much difference in their ability to defend. But when it comes to launching attacks, the situation was different. Alliances that must seek consent from various parties to deploy military force inevitably suffer information leaks. And unified movement becomes impossible.

People inevitably think first of their own safety and their faction’s safety. Attack is something one must choose for oneself. No one wants to stand at the vanguard.

This was why they couldn’t pursue the Demonic Cult as it retreated after Great Demon Emperor’s death. While many argued for chasing them down and fighting to the end, just as many were exhausted from the long war and wanted to stop. Without unified opinion, attack becomes impossible.

But Hundred Sword Castle was free from such constraints.

Unlike other alliances, Hundred Sword Castle follows only the Castle Lord’s commands. So when the Castle Lord makes a decision, they can move immediately.

‘In that sense, you could certainly say Hundred Sword Castle was the strongest force of that era.’

At the time, many would have chosen Righteous Martial Alliance as the strongest, but looking back now, Righteous Martial Alliance was only half-complete. What use is gathering many people if you cannot utilize that power?

No matter how much Righteous Martial Alliance discussed cooperation, how many would stake their lives on the Alliance Leader’s command?

But Hundred Sword Castle was different. Those united by blind loyalty to the Castle Lord would throw away their own lives to follow the Castle Lord’s orders.

‘I missed this.’

Looking back, it’s obvious. But it was difficult for people of that era to notice.

“You had no expectation at all?”

“Well, if I say ‘none at all,’ the situation becomes a bit strange.”

Guwangqushen spoke with a somewhat deflated expression.

“Would there be anyone who didn’t know Hundred Sword Castle was plotting something? Anyone interested in the political situation of the martial world knew that Hundred Sword Castle’s movements were unusual. But we didn’t expect them to move so swiftly.”

“Surely you were on guard?”

“On guard? How could we guard against what?”

“……”

“We couldn’t move, couldn’t move at all. It wasn’t a situation where we could be suspicious of Hundred Sword Castle or investigate them just because they showed suspicious movements. Hundred Sword Castle’s importance in the martial world at that time was by no means small. If we needlessly provoked them and they turned against us, we wouldn’t have been able to stop the Demonic Cult.”

“Indeed……”

Guwangqushen shook his head.

“We can’t help being called complacent. No, we were complacent. We should have been more vigilant. But humans are such that even obvious things in hindsight cannot be accomplished at the time. Back then, everyone was too distracted. Just dealing with the Demonic Cult’s rampage and the Blood Group incident was overwhelming.”

“I understand.”

Evaluating history afterward is easy. Discussing what should have been done differently to take a better path is all too easy after the fact.

But for those living in that era, accomplishing all of that is difficult. Those who study history must always keep that difference in mind.

“But it’s strange. Hundred Sword Castle’s betrayal is famous. But I’ve never heard that they colluded with the Demonic Cult. Why……”

“We couldn’t speak of it.”

“Because you had to hide from descendants that there were traitors within?”

“No, that’s not it. We literally couldn’t speak of it. To say those words, we would have had to explain why they betrayed us…… and that was like the martial world’s shame.”

“Shame, you say?”

Guwangqushen shook his head.

“I’ll tell you everything. Don’t be so impatient. Rice tastes better when it’s properly steamed. The rice is done now, and it just needs to steam. You wouldn’t want to eat half-cooked rice because you can’t wait that brief moment, would you?”

“Of course not.”

“Good. This story doesn’t have much left now. From this moment on, everything flowed like an arrow. So you should listen with tension. There are quite a few stories you might miss if you listen carelessly.”

Guwangqushen turned his head to look at the flickering lamp flame.

“I told you, didn’t I? Looking back now, we failed to do obvious things.”

“Yes.”

“That was a lie.”

“……What?”

Sagan looked puzzled. But Guwangqushen only muttered incomprehensible words.

“Still, I still don’t know. What I should have done then—even after thinking about it dozens, hundreds of times, I still don’t know. What would have been the best course. Yes, it became too complicated, too tangled. Too tangled for human power to unravel. So I could only watch.”

“……”

“Perhaps if I had been a bit bolder, the results might have been different, but at that time I was just…… yes, just……”

Guwangqushen shook his head.

“Anyway, that’s how it was. Heavenly Flow Sword created a situation where I couldn’t move. Even if I were in Tang Cheon-gun’s position, it wouldn’t have been easy to intervene.”

“Was Heavenly Flow Sword strong?”

“Strong.”

The answer was firm.

“He was truly strong. Strong enough that some among the Three Great Swordsmen of the martial world had been defeated by him. His sword was fast, sharp, and also powerful. No one could look down on his sword. However……”

Guwangqushen clicked his tongue.

“His opponent was bad. Ahem.”

***

Tang Cheon-gun couldn’t reach a conclusion.

If he considered righteousness and cooperation, he should immediately mobilize troops to detain Heavenly Flow Sword. But the Hundred Sword Castle warriors occupying Tang Family’s outer walls prevented him from moving.

‘The damage would be great. The moment we move, war breaks out. But does that mean I should just stand by and watch this?’

It was a problem no one could easily decide. Shouting about cooperation and righteousness isn’t difficult. But sacrificing oneself for that cooperation and righteousness is something only a few madmen can do.

Tang Cheon-gun’s beard trembled.

If it were his problem alone, he would have charged in without looking back. But this wasn’t his problem alone. The fate of the Tang Family hung on his single command. Who could easily make such a decision?

“Please wait, Family Head.”

Tang Cheon-gun turned his head.

Zhuge Yeom was nodding with a heavy expression.

“You can trust him.”

“That boy?”

“Yes. If Heavenly Flow Sword wants it, then let him have it. That should dampen their momentum.”

“Hmm.”

Tang Cheon-gun let out a low sound.

Heavenly Flow Sword.

Someone of Tang Cheon-gun’s caliber couldn’t be unaware of how strong he was. Whether one liked him or disliked him, discussing the world’s greatest sword without including him would be impossible.

But……

‘But does that mean that boy would lose…… that’s also not the case.’

In the end, Tang Cheon-gun decided to stay his hand.

If Heavenly Flow Sword had demanded that he stand by while mobilizing Hundred Sword Castle to attack Wei Yan-ho, Tang Cheon-gun would never have tolerated it. Turning away from such a situation would be meaningless even if it preserved their strength. The Tang Family’s honor would never recover.

But if it was a personal duel between Wei Yan-ho and Heavenly Flow Sword?

“I shall wait and see for now.”

“That is the right choice.”

Unlike Tang Cheon-gun, who still couldn’t completely abandon his anxiety, Zhuge Yeom watched the situation with a rather relaxed expression.

“Alliance Leader.”

“What is it?”

“What do you think, Alliance Leader?”

“About what?”

“How do you think their match will turn out?”

“Hmm.”

Chuk Su-gwang raised his hand to stroke his chin.

“Heavenly Flow Sword is strong. No one would deny that he’s strong. But…… that brat isn’t human.”

Certainty gleamed in Zhuge Yeom’s eyes.

“The Wei Family’s sword……”

Heavenly Flow Sword slowly drew his sword.

Seureureureu-reung.

The clear sound of the sword being drawn pierced the ears of the onlookers.

It’s a sound you hear countless times when traveling the martial world. But the sound of Heavenly Flow Sword’s sword being drawn gave a somewhat special feeling.

Neither fast nor slow…… just a natural sword draw.

The mere sight of drawing his sword made one estimate his opponent’s strength.

“Yes. Let me witness what this Wei Family sword is all about……”

Paang!

At that moment, a blade of light shot past right next to Heavenly Flow Sword’s face.

Jureureu-reuk.

Heavenly Flow Sword’s bewildered face. His cheek was slightly cut, blood flowing.

Of course, the owner of that sword energy was Wei Yan-ho.

“Sorry, but I have a bad personality, so I can’t stand watching someone who came to kill me act all leisurely. We’ve talked enough, so let’s stop with the appropriateness and fight now.”

“This……”

Heavenly Flow Sword’s face contorted like a demon’s.

When was the last time he had been wounded?

Even conservatively estimating, it had been more than ten years. But the first wound in ten years wasn’t created during fierce battle, but by a greenhorn’s surprise attack?

Heavenly Flow Sword’s pride was shaken.

“You bastard……”

“Goodness, don’t you understand words?”

Paaang!

Kang!

The sound of cutting air and metal rang out simultaneously. Wei Yan-ho had unleashed sword energy that Heavenly Flow Sword deflected. Heavenly Flow Sword’s face, having raised his sword to block the sword energy, was thoroughly distorted.

“I said we’re done talking. Don’t you get it?”

Wei Yan-ho spun the sword in his hand as he walked toward Heavenly Flow Sword. His steps were as leisurely as if he had come out for a stroll.

“I’m too deep in grudges to leisurely listen to all your words.”

Wei Yan-ho’s voice gradually hardened.

“I want to smash everything, but everyone’s been people I had to deal with appropriately, so I was about to burst from holding back. You came at just the right time. So let’s fight now.”

Heavenly Flow Sword swung his sword.

“Fine. I’ll grant your wish.”

Uuuuuuung.

As if recognizing its master’s will, Heavenly Flow Sword’s blade sang.

Heavenly Flow Sword and Light Sword.

Two swordsmen representing different eras clashed, truly aiming for each other’s lives.

Fighting spirit against fighting spirit.

Killing intent against killing intent.

The two men, yielding not an inch to each other, began closing the distance. Energies collided, creating an undeniable wind.

The onlookers also watched the scene with unrelenting tension.

And today, in this place……

The fate of the world began to twist drastically.