CLS-Chapter 548

Chapter 548:

“Report!”

The eyes of Divine Strategist did not move. His gaze was rapidly scanning the documents placed on his desk. However, his ears were precisely tracking the incoming voice.

“Wudang and Namgung have met in Anhui. They say they will camp locally and wait for additional reinforcements.”

“What about Shaolin?”

“Shaolin has also departed. In addition, the surrounding small and medium families are joining. The Yue Family of Shandong is rapidly moving south, and the Beggar Sect Leader is also heading toward Hefei, leading the sect’s forces.”

“What else?”

“Zhongnan and Huashan have inquired about countermeasures.”

“Shaanxi, Shaanxi…”

Divine Strategist’s mind began spinning rapidly. Not all Nine Great Sects are the same Nine Great Sects. In Henan and Shaanxi, all the main forces of the Nine Great Sects are gathered. If you consider Shaolin, Wudang, Beggar’s Sect, Huashan, and Zhongnan, more than seventy percent of the total power of the Nine Great Sects is assembled.

If you add the families and small to medium sects to this, literally an enormous army is created. On top of that, Gwon Geuk is personally leading the martial artists of the General Headquarters to join in Anhui. Then…

“Zhongnan and Huashan should stand by.”

“Should I just convey that?”

“We don’t know when the Demonic Cult from Xinjiang might turn their heads and attack. The martial sects of Shaanxi should coordinate with Sichuan to be thorough in their defenses against them.”

“…Military Strategist.”

A slightly trembling voice returned.

Divine Strategist, who understood the meaning of that voice, slightly furrowed his brow.

‘It won’t be easy.’

Shaanxi and Sichuan are adjacent. There’s no way adjacent powers would get along well with each other. When the Heavenly Alliance revealed this to the Righteous Martial Alliance, those who most fiercely opposed them were precisely Huashan and Zhongnan.

Especially Huashan had already shown unfavorable feelings toward Sichuan at the Huashan Conference. There’s no way such groups could easily cooperate with each other. While it’s natural to set aside past grievances and join hands when external enemies attack, if worldly affairs all went according to natural order, where would conflicts exist?

“Hooo.”

Divine Strategist took a low, deep breath.

Right now it’s a problem between Shaanxi and Sichuan, but this problem was clearly going to drag down Divine Strategist and the Central Plains for a long time. When the front lines expand, it will eventually escalate into a problem between the Righteous Martial Alliance and the Heavenly Alliance.

The deepened emotional rift will remain like sediment even while fighting together.

‘That’s why I needed that fellow…’

What he wanted from Wei Yan-ho was lubrication. Wei Yan-ho possessed one very strong advantage. You couldn’t exactly call it a strength, but you could call it an advantage.

That is, those who have experienced Wei Yan-ho all come to have a strong sense of empathy. You can tell by looking at those gathered around Wei Yan-ho.

Without Wei Yan-ho, those strong-willed individuals could not have gathered in one place and moved like that. They might have had some friendship, but they wouldn’t have bent their own opinions, so ultimately they would have had no choice but to go their separate ways.

But when Wei Yan-ho gets involved, a group naturally forms. This was a tremendous advantage.

Divine Strategist had hoped that Wei Yan-ho would play this role between the Heavenly Alliance and the Righteous Martial Alliance as well. Even the Heavenly Alliance, no, if it’s the Zhuge Family, they would understand how important cooperation with the Righteous Martial Alliance is, and he thought they would seek alliance with the Righteous Martial Alliance using Wei Yan-ho.

But after the incident with Wei San-ho, everything got tangled up.

‘In the end, if you gain something, you inevitably lose something.’

That’s what life is like. You can’t always gain, and you don’t always lose.

That Wei Yan-ho and his group delayed the Demonic Cult’s advance was a tremendous achievement. But thanks to that, they blew the opportunity to build internal strength. If you calculate gains and losses, you’d still have to call it a gain, but…

“I know it’s not an easy matter. Please add that I earnestly request this from the Huashan Sect Leader.”

“Yes, Military Strategist.”

After the reporter left, Divine Strategist called out sharply.

“When will Shaolin arrive?”

“They’re coming down quickly. It won’t take more than two days.”

“What about our Alliance Leader?”

“Similar.”

“They’re not too late.”

Divine Strategist began tapping the desk with his finger.

Shaolin, always Shaolin is the problem. Shaolin’s system inevitably makes them slow to move. For them to mobilize once, the Discipline Court must recognize the justification for mobilization.

This is because monks who have left secular life feel resistant about involving themselves in worldly affairs.

‘What foolish behavior.’

That said, when has Shaolin ever not been involved in major affairs? Using the excuse of following Buddhist law, they sit with their bottoms glued down when incidents occur, then quietly rise and act like saviors when things become serious. Yet they never miss out on their own interests.

Considering Shaolin’s tendencies, this time they moved exceptionally quickly.

‘That means the situation is that serious.’

It means they calculated that their humble abode could be blown away before they could jump in late and steal the benefits. That calculation was identical to Divine Strategist’s. While there have been numerous crises in the martial world, moments as dangerous as now have been rare.

“What about Hundred Sword Castle?”

“They’re moving north. At their current speed, they’ll arrive in Hefei in three days.”

“Three days, three days…”

It’s an ambiguous timeframe.

Fortunately, most of the forces they wanted would arrive before Hundred Sword Castle reaches Hefei, but there’s no time to unify the command system. Even for our Alliance Leader to suppress them with authority, the Shaolin Abbot, Wudang Sect Leader, and Beggar’s Sect Leader are not easy opponents.

Now that they’ve regained power, they won’t meekly follow the Righteous Martial Alliance’s orders.

‘Too many problems.’

Regardless, the fact that each sect responded so immediately when the incident broke out, and that they’re moving as intended, means the time Divine Strategist spent wasn’t in vain. Divine Strategist devoted twenty years to creating this system.

But while you can perfect the system, you can’t perfectly control the people moving within that system. Because they’re people.

The immediate task is how quickly to correct and optimize the problems that keep appearing. He should be grateful that there’s time for that.

If the Demonic Cult were to storm into the Central Plains right now, forget about problems and such—just moving the forces immediately would be soul-crushing.

“What about the Demonic Cult?”

“They haven’t turned their heads yet.”

“…Yet?”

“Yes.”

“Yet…”

For the first time, Divine Strategist lifted his eyes from the desk.

“Are you certain?”

“Certain.”

“You’re saying yet still.”

Divine Strategist looked up at the ceiling. Timing-wise, they should have already arrived at their headquarters long ago. Then Wei Yan-ho and his group should have already escaped from them. Then there’s no need for all forces to guard the headquarters.

The right thing would be to leave behind forces that can handle the intrusion to clean up, then turn their horses around and head for the Central Plains. But they’re still staying there?

For what purpose?

‘There’s nothing to gain.’

Hundred Sword Castle has already caused trouble. Dragging out time will only make things harder for Hundred Sword Castle. No matter how the Demonic Cult moves, the great battle that will unfold in Anhui can no longer be stopped. Then…

‘Hundred Sword Castle’s exhaustion?’

No.

That can’t be it.

‘It doesn’t make sense.’

Of course, if you think about it lightly, letting Hundred Sword Castle and the Righteous Martial Alliance fight each other would have the effect of exhausting the Central Plains’ power. At first glance, it would seem like reaping benefits without effort.

But then the Demonic Cult would have to face the entire Central Plains alone. Having planted an enemy in the rear, wasting that force one-dimensionally would be utterly foolish.

Isn’t there a way to exhaust several times the power that would be consumed in the war between the Righteous Martial Alliance and Hundred Sword Castle? Just by striking from behind at the right time, the Central Plains would suffer extreme damage, crushed from both sides. But they’re moving so leisurely?

For what purpose?

No matter how much Divine Strategist thought about it, he couldn’t calculate what benefits the Demonic Cult could gain. In any scenario he considered, it would only result in small gains and great losses.

When there’s no room for doubt, you don’t need to doubt. If the Demonic Cult is doing something foolish, it would be convenient to conclude that they’re foolish.

But Divine Strategist couldn’t do that.

This isn’t a war where you can acknowledge defeat and start over if you lose. It’s a total war where nothing remains for the defeated. A single moment of carelessness, a single miscalculation could turn the Central Plains into hell. How could he take the enemy lightly under such circumstances?

‘There’s something I don’t know.’

Certainly.

If they’re not gaining military advantages, there must be other benefits besides military ones. From now on, Divine Strategist must find that part.

“Hasn’t there been any contact from Wei Ga?”

“Yes. Not yet…”

“Hmm…”

Divine Strategist’s face darkened.

‘Can they return alive?’

It won’t be easy. If the Demonic Cult has decided to kill them, and that’s why they’re maintaining such forces, they absolutely cannot survive. No matter how strong Wei Yan-ho is, it’s the same. Even if Gwon Geuk were there, no, even if a martial artist ten times stronger than Gwon Geuk were wreaking havoc in the Demonic Cult, they could never return alive. Because the Demonic Cult is that kind of place.

Even so, Divine Strategist didn’t abandon hope.

The Demonic Cult’s abnormally remaining at their headquarters must be related to them. And Wei Yan-ho had always done something beyond what Divine Strategist expected.

This time too…

Divine Strategist quietly closed his eyes.

‘Calm down.’

He must not expect anything from Wei Yan-ho. Ultimately, what he must do is create a war that can be won even without the variable called Wei Yan-ho. The moment you rely on variables, a strategist is finished.

“The Demonic Cult will definitely move.”

“Yes.”

“Strengthen the border between Shaanxi and Sichuan. I’ll send a separate letter to the Sword Sovereign.”

“Yes!”

Watching the person rush out, Divine Strategist fixed his gaze back on the desk. There are countless things to think about. Troop movements, supplies, relations with the government, calming the frightened people… All of this was weighing down on Divine Strategist’s shoulders.

This is different from past wars when he acted recklessly without knowing better. This time, he will absolutely not create such a tragic situation.

However…

‘What exactly am I missing?’

A corner of Divine Strategist’s chest sank heavily. He hadn’t missed anything. But he had certainly missed something. And he had a near-certain premonition that this one variable he missed would drastically change this war.

“Shadow Warrior!”

“Yes, Military Strategist.”

“From now on, Shadow Warrior will receive all reports. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, Shadow Warrior will handle everything.”

“Then what will you do, Military Strategist?”

“I have something to think about separately, so unless it’s urgent, don’t look for me.”

“Please tell me the degree of urgency.”

“Problems that could change the course of the war.”

“Understood.”

Divine Strategist rose from his seat and went outside. No one followed him. Shadow Warrior moved to Divine Strategist’s seat and began handling affairs in his place.

‘Think… think, Jo Hyeon.’

Divine Strategist, who had entered his room, closed his eyes and fell into contemplation.

He must find it.

Without fail.