CLS-Chapter 632

Chapter 632:

Baek Geom Seong was… well, it was like a fortress battle.

Looking back, their abilities were certainly remarkable.

There’s no need to bring up the name of Man Geom Baek Ga. At that time, Baek Geom Seong had aspects that could overwhelm the Nine Orthodox Sects of that era without relying on past glory.

Huh?

Were they capable enough to take on the Righteous Martial Alliance single-handedly?

Not quite.

But they could have.

Ah, don’t make that stupid face again. I’ll explain.

But it seems like the liquor is running low?

What?

You’re telling me to drink less?

…You seem to be showing your true colors more and more, don’t you?

Die? You’re saying I’ll die?

Ah, that’s not what you meant. You’re saying if I keep drinking like this, I’ll die quickly?

You bastard, that’s the same thing!

What’s so different about it!

Ahem!

Anyway…

Taking on the Nine Orthodox Sects single-handedly is impossible. No force in the world has ever accomplished such a feat.

Ah. Right, yes. We should exclude the Demonic Cult.

But excluding the Demonic Cult, no one could accomplish such a thing. Even Man Geom Baek Ga was the same.

Huh? Wasn’t it possible?

No.

The one who accomplished it wasn’t Man Geom Baek Ga. It was Baek Mu-han.

Isn’t that the same thing?

No.

What the martial world feared back then wasn’t Man Geom Baek Ga. It was only Baek Mu-han.

If that weren’t the case, how could a massive purge of Man Geom Baek Ga have begun the moment Baek Mu-han disappeared? No matter how much of a surprise attack it was, would that have been possible if they had feared Man Geom Baek Ga?

The Man Geom Baek Ga of that era was stronger than any single sect among the Nine Orthodox Sects. But it wasn’t stronger than all the Nine Orthodox Sects combined.

Then why did they fear Baek Mu-han?

You’re asking the obvious.

Because Baek Mu-han was stronger than all of Man Geom Baek Ga combined.

…What have you been listening to this whole time? Are you asking now how a person can be that strong?

I told you. Baek Mu-han isn’t a person. Baek Mu-han is just Baek Mu-han.

Tsk, you don’t understand what I’m saying.

Fine. Let’s move past that.

Anyway, the reason Baek Geom Seong could attack the Righteous Martial Alliance is very simple. Even though Wei Yan-ho had resolved the situation, he still hadn’t solved the secret of the plague.

So the Righteous Martial Alliance couldn’t recklessly confront them.

Even though Wei Yan-ho could provide treatment, that would be after the situation was resolved. He couldn’t treat people during battle.

Fighting the incoming enemy with incomplete forces while your own troops are going berserk?

There’s no more terrible situation than that.

Right. The situation wasn’t that favorable.

But how did it turn out that way?

Heh heh heh, well, that’s…

***

“Baek Geom Seong?”

Shin Gi-sua’s face turned white.

“What are you talking about? Baek Geom Seong!”

“Th-they’re currently advancing toward Luoyang.”

“G-good grief!”

Shin Gi-sua slapped his thigh.

‘A blunder! An absolute blunder!’

They hadn’t yet positioned scouts on the enemy’s advance route.

It couldn’t be helped. The enemy’s advance route was also the allied forces’ retreat path. Wei Yan-ho had saved countless people. The problem was that they had all become patients, and the unconscious patients had to be carried by those who remained in the Righteous Martial Alliance.

In the midst of all that, positioning advance guards to prepare for enemy attacks was too much.

‘I thought we had time…’

It wasn’t that there was no plan at all. Given the damage they had suffered, he thought they absolutely couldn’t reorganize easily. Even if they could reorganize, attacking the Righteous Martial Alliance alone didn’t make military sense.

If they waited just a little, the Demonic Cult would come pouring in, so why would they face the Righteous Martial Alliance alone?

If they had any sense at all, they should have waited for the right timing. But their movements completely exceeded Shin Gi-sua’s expectations.

‘Shin Gi-sua! Shin Gi-sua! You fool!’

Shin Gi-sua bit his lips tightly and blamed himself. Knowing that war never follows common sense, having felt it to the bone through countless experiences, he had once again fallen into the delusion that everything would unfold according to his calculations.

To think he would be this incompetent.

He was too ashamed to use the title Divine Strategic Master.

“Th-then what should we do?”

“Strategic Master!”

The conference room was instantly dyed with confusion. Everyone waited for Jo Hyeon’s mouth to open.

But what could Jo Hyeon do?

“F-for now…”

That’s when it happened.

“What do you mean what to do? This works out well.”

“…Huh?”

Shin Gi-sua’s gaze turned toward where the voice came from. It was too familiar a voice.

When he turned his head, Wei Yan-ho was swaying.

“Works out well?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“What are you talking about? Strategic Grandpa just said we’d beat those guys up first.”

“…That’s right.”

“But they’re coming to us directly. Less hassle and it’s good.”

Right.

If you just listen to the words, that’s right.

“Hey, you bastard! Our side isn’t organized at all, and we’re overflowing with wounded.”

“Isn’t it the same for them?”

Huh?

Shin Gi-sua tilted his head.

Now that he heard it, it seemed like that too?

“If we drag out time to complete our forces, they’ll complete theirs too. It’s the same either way. If we can’t win fighting now, we can’t win fighting later either.”

That was also correct.

It was a strange thing.

Wei Yan-ho had a talent for making correct statements sound wrong. The content was clearly all correct, but when it came out of Wei Yan-ho’s mouth, it sounded wrong.

“So let’s go greet them. They’ve come a long way.”

“Mmm.”

Shin Gi-sua rose from his seat.

Before he could say anything, Wei Yan-ho was already walking outside. And the heads of each sect were somehow following behind Wei Yan-ho.

Shin Gi-sua watched this scene and couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

‘It’s shifting.’

Whether the world’s people acknowledged it or not, the central axis of the martial world was now shifting to Wei Yan-ho.

***

People were gathering in front of Luoyang’s gates.

Jang-il clicked his tongue at the sight.

‘Tremendous.’

He hadn’t realized it because there were so many buildings, but the number of people in the Righteous Martial Alliance was also tremendous. People were pouring out through the gates like swarms of ants.

And these people gathered here weren’t even everyone. The martial sects of Shaanxi were missing.

Well, of course they would need this much to have claimed to be the center of the martial world for hundreds of years.

“Shouldn’t we make separate preparations?”

At Jang-il’s words, Wei Jeong-han turned his head.

“Preparations?”

“Yes. The enemies are attacking, but our preparations seem too lax. Like blocking the castle walls…”

“That’s meaningless.”

Wei Jeong-han shook his head.

“Castle walls are meaningful when people can’t break through and pass. But among those coming now, there are probably over a thousand people who can smash the castle walls, so what meaning would that have?”

“…I suppose so.”

“Military tactics are meaningful only when armies clash with armies. Martial artists can’t be called an army. That’s why Master Shin Gi-sua is remarkable.”

Jang-il nodded repeatedly.

Though he’s been getting pushed around lately, Shin Gi-sua’s position is truly unparalleled. If not for the Zhuge Family, no one could replace Shin Gi-sua.

No, when it comes to the Righteous Martial Alliance, even the Zhuge Family couldn’t replace Shin Gi-sua.

The reason Shin Gi-sua has been unable to get his bearings recently can’t be blamed on Shin Gi-sua himself. At least in the last war, there were no instances of allies betraying and joining hands with the Demonic Cult, or unheard-of, nonsensical madmen appearing…

‘There were no bastards like Wei Yan-ho causing trouble.’

Though it sounds funny to say this, the last war with the Demonic Cult was still a war fought based on common sense. But the current war far exceeded common sense.

In many ways.

Jang-il looked around with a slightly hardened face.

Looking at all these people filling the space, he too felt naturally tense.

‘Should I call it tremendous?’

All these martial artists were gathered in one place. How strong would this force be?

If they set their minds to it, it seemed they could even overthrow the Imperial Palace.

‘But the Demonic Cult is stronger than this.’

And Baek Geom Seong is also formidable.

The world is vast, and masters are endlessly numerous. He never knew he would come to realize the true strength of the martial world like this.

“Even so, abandoning geographical advantage and coming out to open ground feels quite uncomfortable. No matter how paper-thin the castle walls are, they’d be better than nothing.”

“There are civilians in the city.”

“…”

“If we involve them just to gain a little advantage, we can no longer use the name Righteous Martial Alliance.”

“What good would it do if we die?”

“What good would it do if we survive like that?”

Wei Jeong-han spoke firmly.

“The Righteous Martial Alliance is the Righteous Martial Alliance because it receives the support of the people. In terms of history, aren’t Shaolin and Wudang longer than the Righteous Martial Alliance? If we go by strength, the Righteous Martial Alliance doesn’t match the Demonic Cult. The reason the Righteous Martial Alliance can represent the martial world is because the people’s will gather in the Righteous Martial Alliance. Victory gained by abandoning oneself is not victory.”

Jang-il fell into contemplation.

Upright. Too upright.

These were truly excellent and upright words. That’s precisely why they didn’t resonate. Jang-il had heard about righteousness until his ears were calloused as a Beggar’s Sect member, and though he himself wasn’t without the desire to uphold righteousness, looking at Wei Jeong-han made him newly realize how difficult it is to uphold righteousness.

As if noticing Jang-il’s expression, Wei Jeong-han smiled gently.

“And it’s not just for those reasons. There are practical reasons too.”

“Practical reasons?”

“Have you forgotten? They can create madmen. Rather than having madmen rampage inside the castle walls, this place is better.”

“…I hadn’t thought of that.”

Jang-il nodded heavily.

‘It’s not just about facing them directly.’

There were too many disadvantageous aspects in every respect.

Just facing Baek Geom Seong alone wasn’t easy, but there were too many things to consider.

Even so…

Jang-il glanced at Wei Yan-ho’s back standing in front. It should be a completely reliable sight… but.

Jang-il sighed deeply.

‘It’ll work out somehow, it’ll work out.’

Looking at that state makes him angry.

“Hey, you bastard! Can’t you do something about that body of yours?”

“Why?”

“Can you fight with that?”

“Want to spar?”

“Ugh.”

Jang-il scratched his head roughly.

“Shouldn’t you fight in peak condition to win?”

“No.”

“Huh?”

What’s he talking about?

“Even in peak condition, I can’t win.”

“What?”

Jang-il’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean by that? Before even fighting?”

“You always have to fight to know. If you just face each other, you can estimate. Can’t win.”

“Th-then what are you planning to do?”

“You’re asking the obvious. If I can’t win, I’ll call Dad.”

“…Me?”

Wei Jeong-han pointed to himself with a dazed expression.

“No. Not you, Dad. I mean…”

Wei Yan-ho, who was trying to explain something, suddenly turned his head. Then he spoke in a somewhat lower voice.

“They’re coming!”