CLS-Chapter 595

Chapter 595:

Normally, it’s necessary.

A sense of crisis, that is.

Especially in a situation like this, a sense of crisis could be said to be essential. It’s only a moment of quiet that has swept over them, but soon this place will become a battlefield where blood will burst and bones will shatter.

So normally, it would be right to awaken all the senses throughout the body and prepare for any possible situation. Even if not that, it would be necessary to envision the battle that’s about to unfold and find the optimal response.

Normally, that is. Normally.

“Haaaaaaam.”

Wei Yan-ho stretched out with a long stretch.

“I’m getting sleepy.”

“You’re getting sleepy in this situation, you crazy bastard!”

“What do you want me to do about the dizziness that’s coming?”

“Getting sleepy is what’s wrong!”

“So what do you want me to do about it?”

“Argh! Argh! This is driving me crazy!”

But there’s no sense of crisis here.

Deok-sam looked around with dazed eyes. No, well, he understood Wei Yan-ho. He’d heard it beaten into his ears that he was originally that kind of guy.

The Beggar’s Sect had already established guidelines regarding Wei Yan-ho.

Don’t try to understand him. Just accept him as he is as a human being.

Jang-il had strongly objected that the ‘human being’ part in these guidelines should be revised. At the time, he thought what a fuss over such useless things, but now that he’d actually met Wei Yan-ho, he seemed to understand why Jang-il had acted that way.

‘Anyway, Wei Yan-ho aside…’

Why are the others acting like that?

Let’s say Jang-il, who’s bickering with Wei Yan-ho even with enemies in front of them, is understandable. That guy had extraordinary aspects from before too. There had long been evaluations that he was an extreme Small Beggar who would either greatly revive the Beggar’s Sect or completely ruin it. So let’s say he’s understandable.

Then what about Wei Jeong-han?

What about the Zhuge clan member? What about Musan? What about Peng Dao-ji?

Why are those perfectly normal humans acting like that?

Musan is blinking his eyes beside them, not caring what the others are doing. Just looking at his eyes, you couldn’t tell whether that guy was a monk from Shaolin or a bald demon from the Demonic Cult.

If you put an axe in his hands, it would make nicknames like Thousand Mountain Blood Axe or Giant Strength Tyrant seem fitting.

And Peng Dao-ji.

‘No, how did that kid end up like that?’

Shaolin people tend to restrict outside contact, making it difficult to obtain information. So even when a monk becomes famous, it’s hard to grasp what kind of personality he has.

A monk’s tendencies would be similar anyway, but still.

But Peng Dao-ji is the legitimate son of the Hebei Peng Family. An investigation of such a figure would naturally have been completed already, wouldn’t it?

‘But why is he acting like that?’

The evaluation of Peng Dao-ji within the Beggar’s Sect wasn’t very favorable.

His skills are certain, but his character is weak.

He has a sense of justice, but lacks the willpower to carry it through.

An insufficient person to become a family head. High probability of being pushed out in internal power struggles.

Insufficient as a family head, but excellent as a martial artist.

Simply put… it meant he was someone with skills but a weak character, like a pushover.

That pushover was now licking a sharp sword blade with his tongue.

What? Weak?

‘He looks like a murderer who just came up from hell.’

It’s not just his actions. Those eyes, that atmosphere – every single thing has something that makes people feel eerie.

Deok-sam shivered involuntarily from the goosebumps.

Moreover, there’s Wei Jeong-han standing with his hands behind his back looking up at the sky in this ridiculous situation, and the Zhuge clan member behind them constantly calculating something and muttering…

‘Why isn’t there a single normal guy?’

It wasn’t supposed to be like this according to what he’d heard.

He’d heard that this group led by Wei Yan-ho was composed entirely of outstanding rising talents, and that those rising talents were led by that Righteous Hero Sword Wei Jeong-han.

Naturally, he’d thought they were pillars who would lead the martial world in the future.

Though it’s just Wei Jeong-han here now, hadn’t Wei San-ho been with them before? Who could have imagined that a place led by Righteous Hero Sword Wei Jeong-han and Demon-Slaying Sword Wei San-ho would be such a disastrous group?

Deok-sam, who had thought Jang-il would be the strangest person among those humans, was despairing at the fact that Jang-il was actually the most normal one among them.

Still, there was one thing that could be called consoling.

‘I’m somewhat better.’

Deok-sam’s gaze turned forward.

A swordsman of Baek Sword Castle.

The swordsman of Baek Sword Castle whose back he had cut was fidgeting restlessly, unable to do this or that.

Of course, his sword tip wasn’t shaking, and his posture was proper. Being able to maintain such an upright posture in this situation was certainly something that should be called impressive.

But that was all.

No matter how proper his posture and firm his will, what use was it when his expression was like that?

Of course, it wasn’t a frightened expression. It was a face burning with determination. But that appearance looked like a cat cornered by wild dogs, bristling its fur and hissing.

‘Poor thing.’

Though he had been a demon-like bastard trying to take his life just moments ago, at this moment he couldn’t help but feel sympathy.

If those in front of him now weren’t Wei Yan-ho’s group but others instead, if they were the current end-game bosses of the martial world like Sword Master, Sword Immortal, Sword Sovereign, he would have been able to mock that bastard.

Because he would just be paying the price for the sins he committed.

But this is a bit…

“So what should we do with that guy?”

“Kill him?”

“Didn’t you say not to kill him earlier?”

“I didn’t say not to kill him. I said not to get unnecessarily excited.”

“Really? Then should we kill him?”

“Do whatever you want.”

Pitiful.

Yes, honestly, it’s a bit pitiful.

When Deok-sam thought about what it would feel like if he were in such a situation, it became increasingly clear. This is the situation a martial artist would least want to encounter.

Everyone lives thinking they might meet a stronger opponent and die. Living in the martial world, being a martial artist – that’s what it is.

But at least they’d want their opponent to have ‘dignity’, wouldn’t they?

‘Dignity…’

Expecting dignity from Wei Yan-ho, who now looked ready to just sit down, was too difficult a story. To think he’d make them want to give their enemy at least a proper death – these guys certainly weren’t ordinary.

“But you… are you okay?”

“……”

At Jang-il’s question, Deok-sam’s lips trembled.

‘You’re asking that now?’

This bastard isn’t normal either.

Earlier he was acting like he couldn’t control his anger, and now he’s asking smoothly.

“Is whether I’m okay important right now?”

“Well, it’s not particularly important.”

“……”

Definitely not normal.

“Aren’t you being too carefree?”

“About what?”

“Even now, the main force should be approaching this place. Shouldn’t we flee quickly?”

“Flee?”

Jang-il’s face contorted.

“Ugh, don’t even mention it. I’m sick of fleeing now. Do you know how much running around we’ve done?”

Jang-il shuddered.

Just thinking about fleeing from the Demonic Cult’s pursuit, he was ready to have a fit at just hearing the word ‘flee’.

“No, but still…”

“And what’s the point of telling me that?”

“Huh?”

“That guy has no intention of leaving.”

Jang-il pointed at Wei Yan-ho with his chin.

“……”

“Logic or whatever, it’s all meaningless. He’s just a guy who won’t do it if he doesn’t want to do it.”

That’s possible.

People can be like that. There are so many crazy people in the world.

But isn’t it strange to do crazy things together just because that crazy person does crazy things?

“Small Beggar, the people of Baek Sword Castle are truly frightening.”

“I know. That’s why the Righteous Martial Alliance was destroyed.”

“Knowing with your head and…”

“Have you ever faced the Demonic Cult?”

“……”

“If you haven’t, don’t talk.”

There was nothing to say.

‘I don’t know anymore either.’

They’ll figure it out themselves.

Anyway, it’s a life that was already dead. It’s a gain to have lived even a little longer.

“You should leave quickly.”

“Can’t leave.”

Deok-sam bent down and applied pressure to Jong-gu’s shoulder to stop the bleeding.

“This guy… his condition is too bad. If we move him violently, his wounds will open up. I have no choice but to stop the bleeding here.”

“Then at least go to that corner over there. It seems they’re almost here.”

“…I’ll do that.”

Deok-sam carried Jong-gu on his back and retreated to a corner.

Swish swish swish.

The sound of bushes moving could be heard by his ears.

‘They’re here!’

Deok-sam’s face was colored with tension. Finally, the vanguard of Baek Sword Castle had reached this place.

Paaaat.

The bushes in front violently broke apart as the vanguard revealed themselves. Deok-sam’s face contorted at seeing the vanguard that revealed itself.

Blood.

The white clothing was all stained with blood. And the blood that stained those clothes was all theirs.

His teeth ground together.

His body trembled.

That blood was death. The blood of his colleagues and friends. Strength entered Deok-sam’s hand pressing down on Jong-gu’s shoulder.

“Whoa.”

When the vanguard raised his hand, the Baek Sword Castle martial artists who had been rushing violently all stopped at once.

The one at the vanguard wiped the blood flowing down his hair and looked straight at Wei Yan-ho.

“Wei Yan-ho?”

“That’s right.”

“Wei Yan-ho, so you really are Wei Yan-ho. Wei Yan-ho…”

Wei Yan-ho realized anew his own fame. People who had never even seen his face recognized him so well.

“Those idiotic Demonic Cult bastards couldn’t even catch one kid. But it’s not bad. Your head is quite a significant achievement.”

Poke poke.

Wei Yan-ho picked his ear and then blew the earwax away with his mouth. Whoosh.

“Well, I’m grateful that you value my head so highly, but could you not speak as if you can just take it at will? My mood gets a bit weird about that.”

“Hahahaha!”

The one at the vanguard drew his sword from its sheath.

Srrrrring.

The sound of the sheath and sword rubbing against each other was heard eerily.

“Whether I can take it or not, we’ll know once we try. I’ll praise your courage for daring to block Baek Sword Castle’s path. But it’s also an adult’s duty to teach you that recklessness brings disaster.”

“That gentleman has quite a smooth tongue.”

“It’s not just my tongue that’s smooth, kid. Remember this. My name is Cheon Woo-jong. The one who will take your head.”

Paaaaat!

Without further words, Cheon Woo-jong charged toward Wei Yan-ho. The sword raised in an overhead stance flew in carrying blue sword energy.

“Heh.”

Wei Yan-ho let out a hollow laugh and pulled his fist back.

Then, one punch.

Woooooooooooooong!

With a sound like striking a giant bell, the fist force that burst from Wei Yan-ho’s fist instantly swept away Cheon Woo-jong who was flying in.

“Kaaaaaaaaaak!”

Cheon Woo-jong, caught in the fist force, writhed his whole body like a kite caught in a storm and disappeared far away.

“……”

“……”

A strange silence began to flow in the area.

Crack crack.

Wei Yan-ho twisted his neck a couple times, loosened his hands, and walked forward step by step.

“Something I’ve realized lately…”

“……”

“It seems people need to get hit to come to their senses. Now I can understand why my master beat me so much.”

“So… um, how should I put it…”

The corners of Wei Yan-ho’s mouth curved up long.

That smile was too eerie.

“I think I know what my master would have done if he were here. So I should punish you all in my master’s place.”

Wei Yan-ho’s face gradually became harder.

“How great the price is for going against the teachings of Ten Thousand Swords.”

The playful atmosphere completely disappeared.