CLS-Chapter 588

Chapter 588:

“These crazy bastards…….”

Chilji-singae’s face twisted in distortion.

He couldn’t help but be flustered.

It had only been a few days since he received orders to immediately provide support, as Baek-geomseong and the Righteous Martial Alliance were scheduled to clash in Anhui.

He had gathered all available forces and arrived at Hefei just moments ago.

The moment he heard that battle had already begun, he ran and ran again until sweat poured from his body to arrive at this place, but the scene unfolding before his eyes was rendering all of Chilji-singae’s efforts useless.

‘How did things end up like this?’

The battle formation he observed from afar was too shocking. What appeared to be the massive army of the Righteous Martial Alliance was surrounded on three sides by pristine white forces.

It was a sight where even a child who knew nothing about military strategy could tell at a glance who held the advantage.

“These damn beggars!”

Curses poured endlessly from Chilji-singae’s mouth as he ran. Though he habitually spat out profanities, his insides were rotting away even more than his outward appearance suggested.

The battle situation was too urgent.

Without external help, it wouldn’t be easy to overcome that situation. Perhaps their slightly delayed arrival might be a stroke of heavenly luck, Chilji-singae thought as he put strength into his legs.

“You beggar bastards! If you’ve eaten someone’s rice, you should earn your keep! Run! Run until your legs break!”

“Ugh, really!”

“What’s there to pick up and eat!”

Though the responses weren’t pleasant, the Beggar’s Sect members he had brought also did their best to follow behind Chilji-singae. Those who knew this fierce battle was a decisive war that would determine the fate of the martial world couldn’t afford to discuss fatigue.

Chilji-singae’s expression changed subtly as he approached the battlefield.

His speed slowed.

Little by little.

Then soon, Chilji-singae came to a complete stop.

“This is…….”

Chilji-singae muttered as if his soul had left him. But those words were never completed. There was no way to describe the situation unfolding before his eyes.

Chilji-singae’s eyes trembled violently.

‘What kind of hellish scene is this?’

Something incomprehensible by common sense was unfolding before his eyes. He had thought the Righteous Martial Alliance was surrounded by Baek-geomseong and under attack, but when he got closer, Baek-geomseong was merely surrounding the Righteous Martial Alliance.

Rather, they seemed to be avoiding collision with the Righteous Martial Alliance.

Why had such a situation occurred?

The reason was simple.

In various places, those spewing pitch-black demonic energy were running wild. They were so violently rampaging that at first, he thought the Demonic Cult’s elites had rushed into the Righteous Martial Alliance.

But that wasn’t it.

The clothing they wore was no different from other disciples around them. Among those rampaging were faces Chilji-singae recognized. No, there were plenty of them.

His mind wouldn’t work.

Even though the situation was clearly visible to his eyes, he couldn’t understand why such a situation was occurring.

When faced with an incomprehensible situation, there was someone he needed to find first. Chilji-singae’s gaze searched for Gwon-geuk.

It wasn’t a difficult task.

‘Fist force?’

Suddenly, tremendous power began rushing toward them. Just from the force contained in that fist technique, it wasn’t difficult to guess who the owner of this power was.

But it was strange.

Why was Gwon-geuk’s fist force directed toward them instead of the enemy? At this rate, their allies would be exposed to the fist force…….

Then, an unexpected change occurred.

The Righteous Martial Alliance members were carried by the fist force unleashed by Gwon-geuk. Since it was so tremendous, it lightened their bodies and floated them in the air. Gwon-geuk’s fist force was blowing them away like feathers.

“What…….”

The words remained incomplete.

Bewilderment, and absurdity.

Strange events that didn’t fit at all with this tragic battlefield kept occurring.

‘What on earth is the Alliance Leader doing…….’

That was the moment.

Chilji-singae saw it.

Gwon-geuk unleashing fist force toward them, and Baek Hoe-myeong charging toward that Gwon-geuk.

A blue-green sword aura surrounded Baek Hoe-myeong’s sword.

“Ah, no…….”

The sword that pierced Gwon-geuk’s solar plexus gleamed clearly in the sunlight.

“Alliance Leaderrrrrrr!”

Chilji-singae cried out desperately.

Drip.

A single drop of blood fell to the ground.

It was a common occurrence on a battlefield. A battlefield is a place where blood and death run rampant.

But the meaning of that single drop of blood was extraordinary.

Gwon-geuk Sama-cheonse.

Though there is no blood in this world that isn’t precious, the meaning carried by Gwon-geuk’s blood was certainly different.

Blood trickled down from the tip of cold metal that had pierced through the superhuman body that had supported the martial world for decades.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Gwon-geuk.

Even among those who had lost their reason and were rampaging, some stopped their movements and looked back at Gwon-geuk.

“Mo……ve.”

Blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.

A sword protruding through his abdomen.

But in contrast, Gwon-geuk’s expression hadn’t changed at all. Without even twitching an eyebrow, he was still unleashing his fist force.

“Go!”

Wooooooooong!

The fist force grew stronger.

Even though his abdomen was pierced, Gwon-geuk didn’t waver. As if he had expected this, he simply continued doing what he had to do.

Everyone was horrified by that sight.

But the most shocked person was naturally Baek Hoe-myeong.

His wide-open eyes showed no intention of closing.

His sword had clearly pierced through Gwon-geuk’s body. But Gwon-geuk was calmly deploying his fist force as if nothing had happened.

“This…….”

Rage filled the space where bewilderment had retreated.

He twisted the sword he had thrust in. He felt a heavy sensation in his hand. He pulled out the sword with a swoosh and slashed it across.

Scrape!

With the chilling sound of flesh being cut, Gwon-geuk’s back split open, revealing red flesh. But Gwon-geuk didn’t even flinch. He continued unleashing his fist force as if it were only natural.

‘What the hell is this bastard?’

Baek Hoe-myeong’s eyes shook.

This should belong to them.

The right to focus on one thing, forgetting even pain through resentment toward their opponent—that right belonged to them. At least here and now.

This wasn’t the appearance Gwon-geuk should show, having consumed the fruits of the sins committed by the martial world.

“Samacheonse!”

Thwack!

Baek Hoe-myeong’s sword pierced through Gwon-geuk’s chest again.

“Cough!“

No matter how much of a person Gwon-geuk was, he was still human. Bright red blood gushed from his mouth like a fountain.

“Young Sect Leader.”

But his voice was still resolute.

The moment he heard that unwavering voice, goosebumps rose all over Baek Hoe-myeong’s body.

“Watch carefully.”

Wooooooooong!

The earth was vibrating from how much internal energy he had drawn up. Stone fragments from the ground floated into the air.

“What it means to still be a member of the martial world.”

Kwaaaaaaaaaah!

Tremendous fist force erupted from both hands. There was no consideration for friend or foe. The Righteous Martial Alliance warriors who had been filling the front were blown away as if swept up in a storm.

“Alliance Leader!”

“Alliance Leaderrrrrrr!”

Those who realized what Gwon-geuk was doing tried to resist while shedding tears, but they couldn’t resist Gwon-geuk’s fist force.

They were blown away helplessly.

“Alliance Leaderrrrrrr!”

Desperate screams echoed across the earth.

“…….”

At this moment, Baek Hoe-myeong even forgot the fact that he needed to cut off Gwon-geuk’s lifeline. He simply stood there with his sword embedded in Gwon-geuk’s back, staring blankly at his back.

The Baek-geomseong warriors surrounding the Righteous Martial Alliance also couldn’t dare think of doing anything.

They were mesmerized by this extraordinary and tremendous spectacle.

Was this something a human could do?

No one would imagine that a person could do such a thing. That’s why no one was prepared, and no one could stop it.

And no one even thought to stop it.

A strange atmosphere formed.

Though they had hatred for the martial world carved deep in their hearts, they felt they had to watch this sight. They had to witness with their own eyes how far one human’s will could go.

Kwaaaaaaah!

They were swept away.

The fist force swept the crowd like a muddy torrent rushing in from heavy rain.

Chilji-singae retreated frantically.

It was rushing toward them.

It was like the scene of a broken dam flooding into an empty waterway. It was a hundred times more dangerous because fist force was rushing instead of water.

People swept up in the fist force were flying toward them like leaves torn away by a storm.

“Catch themmmmm!”

Chilji-singae shouted without realizing it.

Initially, those pushed by the gentle fist wind could still maintain their balance, but now there was no time for that. Most people were flying in, having lost consciousness from the pressure of the fist force or completely unable to maintain their balance.

The beggars caught those people.

Thud! Thud!

The beggars caught those who had lost consciousness or balance.

Chilji-singae, who had given the orders, didn’t look back and stared at Gwon-geuk with eyes that seemed ready to tear. The sword protruding through his chest was so piercing cold.

“……Alliance Leader.”

Gwon-geuk could have lived.

With his abilities, it wouldn’t be difficult to extract himself from any situation. But Gwon-geuk didn’t choose that path.

It was foolish. But it was such a natural thing.

It was unimaginable for Gwon-geuk to abandon others and flee. Anyone who had watched him for a long time would think so.

A sacrifice chosen all too naturally.

That’s why it was more heartbreaking, and that’s why it was more sorrowful.

“Alliance Leaderrrrrrr!”

Chilji-singae’s desperate scream resonated thunderously across the earth.

“Cough.“

Gwon-geuk’s body had changed somewhat from before.

His thick, dark hair had turned completely white, becoming white hair, and his child-like skin was instantly covered with wrinkles. His massive body that seemed capable of supporting even Mount Tai had shrunk and his back was bent.

Looking at his outward appearance alone, no one would recognize that this person was the Gwon-geuk called the Number One Fist Under Heaven.

Yet there was one thing that remained unchanged.

Baek Hoe-myeong swallowed dry saliva.

Gwon-geuk’s vital energy had hit rock bottom. Since he had drawn upon even his innate energy, there was no chance he would survive. Now he would naturally die even if no one intervened.

Even that time wasn’t much left.

‘Even so…….’

Why didn’t the sense of intimidation diminish at all?

That pitiful back.

Why did that bent and small, utterly pitiful back look so large?

Baek Hoe-myeong could understand.

“Strength isn’t everything. What’s important is will.”

These were words the Family Head used to say.

Though Baek Hoe-myeong accepted all of the Family Head’s words as truth, he couldn’t understand these words alone. In the end, they had suffered because they lacked strength. If they had strength, the martial world wouldn’t have dared target them.

That’s why he had built up strength. Because strength was everything.

But now Gwon-geuk was teaching him the words that even the Family Head couldn’t make him understand.

That strength isn’t everything.

That will sometimes surpasses strength.

“……Alliance Leader.”

Baek Hoe-myeong’s way of addressing Gwon-geuk returned to Alliance Leader again. It was something he himself didn’t realize.

Respect.

How could one not show respect to this great man?

Regardless of enemy or ally, if one was a warrior, one couldn’t help but respect this man.

Slowly, Gwon-geuk’s body straightened.

Gwon-geuk, who had raised his head to look at the sky for a long while, lowered his head to look at the mercilessly trampled battlefield.