CLS-Chapter 520

Chapter 520:

“Euracha!“

Wei Yan-ho sprang up from his spot.

“What, what is it?”

Jang-il looked at Wei Yan-ho getting up from his seat and shouted in surprise.

“What are you surprised about?”

“How could I not be surprised? Get up quietly for once!”

Jang-il shouted loudly.

If it had been anyone else getting up like this, it would have ended with ‘What a peculiar way to get up.’ But since it was Wei Yan-ho getting up like this, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

This was Wei Yan-ho, who would take at least one shijin to get his body up even after opening his eyes. During the journey to Xinjiang, what tormented Jang-il the most wasn’t the sandstorms or the barren land, but waking up Wei Yan-ho every morning.

How difficult it had been to coax, cajole, kick, and shout at Wei Yan-ho—who wouldn’t get up no matter what, as if grass had grown on his back—to finally get him standing.

And now that bastard was springing up like that, so of course he’d be surprised.

“Did you have some kind of nightmare? Doing things you’ve never done before.”

“You beggar.”

“Huh?”

“The early bird catches the worm. Be a little more diligent.”

“Hey, you……”

Jang-il’s mouth fell wide open.

For such words to come from Wei Yan-ho’s mouth, of all people. If he had even a shred of conscience, those were words Wei Yan-ho could never have said.

“That’s why you’re a beggar.”

“Do you even know how diligent a beggar has to be before saying such things! A beggar who can’t get up early can’t even get scraps to eat. How desperate would they be to sleep right there, not wanting to lose their begging spot!”

“The fact that you think that’s being diligent is why you’re hopeless.”

“Even that beggar is more diligent than you!”

“Is that something to brag about? If you’re human, you should at least be more diligent than me.”

“……Huh?”

That’s… actually right?

But why is that bastard the one saying it?

It felt somehow unfair, but since it was correct, he couldn’t argue back.

Wei Yan-ho rolled up the blanket spread on his spot and stretched languidly.

“Aueueu, maybe it’s because the ground is hard, but my back aches a bit.”

“You’re a master. What are you going to do if your back hurts from that?”

“What can I do about pain? But what about food?”

“Am I your wife? Am I your family’s servant? Why are you asking me about food!”

“Goodness, I can ask, can’t I? You’re being so cranky.”

“Aigo, how frustrating!”

Wei Yan-ho fed Jang-il, who was clutching his chest, a knuckle sandwich and came out of the barracks.

“Let’s see.”

Wei Jeong-han was already outside.

“You’re up?”

Wei Jeong-han’s eyes widened when he saw Wei Yan-ho coming out of the barracks.

“You, what’s gotten into you?”

“What do you mean?”

“For you to be up at this hour. The sun… the sun, the sun!”

Wei Jeong-han confirmed that the sun was definitely rising from the east and looked at Wei Yan-ho with disbelief.

“Are you sick somewhere?”

“……If I were sick, I’d get up late.”

“Right. That’s right. But……”

Wei Jeong-han’s genuinely surprised reaction was making Wei Yan-ho a little sad.

“I-I can get up early sometimes!”

“Right. You can. But……”

“Forget it.”

Wei Yan-ho waved his hand dismissively.

Wei Jeong-han, who had been staring blankly at Wei Yan-ho, sighed.

“When my senior said I looked like I was about to have a fit, I was secretly annoyed, but now I understand what he meant. Seeing you get up this early, something’s definitely going to happen today, isn’t it?”

“Is that something to say to your son?”

“It’s because you’re my son that I’m saying it, you punk!”

As the two were bickering, the barracks door opened roughly and Yeom Mong came outside.

“Keep it down! What is this, a marketplace? What? Are you going to send a message to the Demonic Cult bastards telling them you’re here?”

“Wouldn’t they know anyway?”

“They might know we’re here. But they don’t know that you guys are here, which is why I’m saying this.”

“There’s no particular reason to hide……”

Yeom Mong’s face flushed red.

“Listen here, Jeong-han.”

“Yes, senior.”

“Are all children like this?”

“Speaking from a father’s perspective, while it’s true that my boy is particularly lacking in manners, has no sense, and has many problems, most fathers seem to voice the same complaints.”

“……I did well not to marry.”

Yeom Mong shook his head.

“I think there’s a need to distinguish between not marrying and not being able to marry.”

“……That, that hits where it hurts.”

When Yeom Mong made a hurt expression, Wei Yan-ho quickly changed his words, realizing his mistake.

“But Uncle, if you had set your mind to it, you could have married at any time. Even someone like my father got married.”

“Why am I being brought into this?”

“Should I tell you?”

“I live every day grateful to your mother.”

Yeom Mong sighed as he listened to the father-son conversation.

“Enough, let’s eat.”

“I was getting hungry anyway.”

“Tsk.“

Yeom Mong clicked his tongue and turned around.

‘He’s worse than the old Wei Jeong-han.’

Wei Jeong-han was no slouch when it came to not knowing his place either. Wei Jeong-han had lived his life completely divorced from concepts like rank or courtesy. If something went against his principles, he wouldn’t hesitate to butt heads with even his superiors.

That’s why he was ostracized, wasn’t it?

But while Wei Yan-ho was even more discourteous than Wei Jeong-han, his tongue seemed to work twice as well.

‘And he’d be several times stronger too.’

Who could handle such a guy? It was impossible for him, who couldn’t even handle Wei Jeong-han.

Even if only half of the stories he’d heard about Wei Yan-ho were true, Wei Yan-ho was a master beyond Yeom Mong’s reach. For someone that age to possess such ability was truly remarkable. However……

‘The timing was bad.’

If Wei Yan-ho could grow just a little more, the future of the martial world could be called bright. But Wei Yan-ho wasn’t fully mature yet. While he could certainly be a force to reckon with now, he wouldn’t be able to escape the level of being just one of many masters in the world.

If only they had twenty more years, or at least ten more years, the situation would have been different.

Yeom Mong shook his head.

‘It’s just wishful thinking.’

When do things in this world ever go as one wishes?

In ten years, when Wei Yan-ho grows, the Demonic Cult will also become that much stronger, and other problems will arise. No amount of preparation is ever enough. There is no such thing as perfect preparation.

“What do you plan to do after eating?”

At Yeom Mong’s question, Wei Jeong-han shrugged.

“We’ve heard what we needed to hear roughly…… We should go see what those bastards are up to.”

Yeom Mong let out a deep sigh.

He knew he couldn’t stop them, but he wanted to try. Wei Jeong-han wasn’t someone who didn’t know how terrifying it was to approach the Demonic Cult. How could he stop someone who knew but still intended to go?

“At least eat a hearty meal before you go.”

“I’m grateful for your kindness.”

“They say even a ghost that dies after eating looks better.”

Wei Jeong-han smiled without answering. Looking at that ambiguous smile made him inexplicably angry.

“If you’re going to die, die alone. Do you have to drag your son along to die too?”

“I didn’t bring him. The kid came on his own.”

“But you should have stopped him.”

“He’s not someone who listens.”

“Is that really the reason?”

“By what justification could I stop a younger brother going to rescue his older brother?”

“……”

This bastard really isn’t in his right mind.

Yeom Mong gave up on further persuasion. He had tried asking with the mindset of grasping at straws, but it wasn’t working on this guy.

“Do as you please, do as you please.”

Yeom Mong shouted irritably.

“You bastards, what are you doing! Prepare the food, food!”

“Yes!”

As soon as Yeom Mong finished speaking, the branch members began moving around noisily.

Wei Jeong-han turned his head to look at Wei Yan-ho and asked.

“But really, what wind blew to make you get up early?”

“My stomach feels comfortable.”

“Huh? Your stomach?”

“Yes. My stomach was uncomfortable as if a stone had lodged in it, but now it feels comfortable. So I got hungry.”

Wei Jeong-han quietly looked at Wei Yan-ho.

‘It seems he’s sorted through his confusion.’

Throughout the journey here, Wei Yan-ho hadn’t been acting like himself. He didn’t whine as usual, nor did he get irritated. It’s good for a person to become more serious. But seriousness and Wei Yan-ho were incompatible words, weren’t they?

Returning to his true self meant he had relieved himself of the burden on his mind. He didn’t know what way he had organized his path forward, but it would certainly be better than being wrapped in confusion.

“We’re going to the Demonic Cult today.”

“Yes.”

“Will you be alright?”

“You’re asking about everything today. We came here to do that anyway.”

“Right, that’s right.”

Wei Jeong-han nodded.

‘Maybe I’m the one who’s confused.’

Asking this and that of someone who had sorted out his mind meant that he too wanted to steady his heart with those answers. While he acted calm in front of Yeom Mong, someone approaching the Demonic Cult couldn’t really be calm.

“Aren’t you scared?”

Wei Jeong-han’s true intention slipped out slightly.

“What an obvious thing to say.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

“Of course I’m scared.”

“Huh?”

Wei Jeong-han’s eyes widened.

“You said you’re scared?”

“Of course I’m scared. There are so many frightening bastards there. If we get caught wrong, we die. How could I not be scared? My legs are trembling.”

“……”

“But being scared doesn’t mean I can’t do what needs to be done. So even if my legs are trembling, I have to walk.”

“Right. Yes, that’s right.”

Wei Jeong-han ended up laughing.

‘I’ve been away from the battlefield too long.’

He had forgotten, but his heart used to be like that when heading to battle in the past. When he saw the Demonic Cult’s forces approaching from afar, his heart would pound and his legs would tremble.

The burden and fear that today might be his last, even though he had survived until yesterday. Those emotions always accompanied Wei Jeong-han.

They say memories are beautified, so why did he think his past self never trembled?

‘Now I’m the one learning.’

Wei Jeong-han had to admit it.

It wasn’t just martial prowess. Wei Yan-ho was a dignified warrior. Wei Jeong-han had grown to rely on him emotionally as well, as he had grown so much. Unlike Wei San-ho, he had thought Wei Yan-ho would remain a snot-nosed lazy bum forever……

He felt both pride and regret simultaneously.

“Right, it’s frightening. Frightening, but we have to go. That’s the right……”

“Branch Leader!”

Wei Jeong-han’s leisurely voice was cut off by a sharp voice from somewhere. Both Wei Jeong-han and Wei Yan-ho’s heads turned toward where the sound came from.

‘The watchtower?’

The place where the sound came from.

Someone with a pale face was shouting from atop the watchtower.

“Th-they’re moving!”

“What are you talking about?”

“The, the Demonic Cult is moving! Right now! Over there!”

Pat!

Yeom Mong, Wei Yan-ho, and Wei Jeong-han simultaneously leaped onto the watchtower. The three who climbed the watchtower pressed close to the railing without saying a word and stuck their heads forward.

‘That?’

Wei Jeong-han’s face hardened beyond measure.

A dust cloud.

In the distance, a thick dust cloud was visible. It was definitely different from a sandstorm. It was a large dust cloud created by something moving on a massive scale.

And there was only one group in this area capable of moving on such a scale.

“Send an urgent report!”

Yeom Mong barked without turning his head.

They’re moving.

The Demonic Cult.

The Thousand-Year Demonic Cult.

Those who had always driven the martial world into terror were finally breaking their long silence and, at this very moment, beginning their march toward the Central Plains.