CLS-Chapter 633

Chapter 633:

‘Where?’

Jang-il’s eyes widened.

But nothing was visible to his eyes yet. That was only natural.

However, Jang-il didn’t rush Wei Yan-ho.

Wei Yan-ho would naturally see farther and sense farther than him. In a situation like this, he wouldn’t be spouting nonsense, so soon enough…

‘Over there!’

Something finally began to enter Jang-il’s field of vision.

White.

Something pure white had appeared on the horizon. It looked as if a white line had formed, dividing heaven and earth.

But soon Jang-il could tell that the white line was an endlessly surging pure white army.

‘Gives me chills, damn it.‘

This wasn’t his first encounter with the Hundred Swords Castle. But when he had faced the Hundred Swords Castle before, it was in a forest. And it was more like facing a small advance party before the main force arrived.

He had never had the opportunity to see all of the Hundred Swords Castle’s forces with his own eyes. And now, Jang-il could clearly understand what the saying “ignorance is bliss” meant.

If he had seen that sight with his own eyes, he absolutely wouldn’t have been able to act so boldly. Absolutely!

That’s how overwhelming the sight of the Hundred Swords Castle forces approaching was. So much so that even in the much more numerous Righteous Martial Alliance, murmurs began to spread increasingly.

“Yan-ho.”

“Yes?”

Divine Strategist spoke quietly to Wei Yan-ho.

“The people are becoming agitated. Don’t you think you should say something?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Me?”

“……”

Divine Strategist’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

“Ah, Military Grandfather, you’ve gotten quite fond of jokes too. Haha.”

“……”

His lips were unconsciously being chewed. He thought that at this rate, there wouldn’t be any lips left.

‘I should ask the right person for help.‘

Of course, it wasn’t entirely Wei Yan-ho’s fault. Divine Strategist, who had expected such a thing from Wei Yan-ho, couldn’t escape blame either.

It was true that Wei Yan-ho was somewhat replacing Gwon Geuk’s position. Whether he liked it or not, that was a fact that had to be acknowledged.

‘In some aspects, he’s even more than that.‘

Wei Yan-ho could never completely replace Gwon Geuk. That righteousness and dignity that Gwon Geuk possessed was something Wei Yan-ho could never imitate. Gwon Geuk had something that made those around him feel at ease just by existing.

But Wei Yan-ho didn’t have such a thing.

Rather than becoming comfortable when looking at him, people became anxious. Divine Strategist was seriously feeling that right now.

It was absurd.

Even by objective evaluation, Wei Yan-ho was the strongest among all those Divine Strategist had worked with.

In past wars, it wasn’t Gwon Geuk who was the strongest. There were certainly others stronger than him. Among them were those still alive, and those who were no longer people of this world.

But thinking of any of them, there was no one he was confident would be stronger than Wei Yan-ho.

Having such a strong person beside him should have been reassuring, yet…

‘The ally is more frightening than the enemy.‘

Divine Strategist wore a bitter smile.

Certainly, compared to Gwon Geuk… no, compared to anyone in the world, Wei Yan-ho was unsettling.

But Wei Yan-ho had something that Gwon Geuk didn’t have.

‘Expectation.‘

The expectation that he would do something.

‘I must be getting senile.‘

To have expectations of such a fellow.

But thinking of what Wei Yan-ho had done so far, he couldn’t help but expect. This fellow had always exceeded Divine Strategist’s imagination.

Tasks he thought would be solved with difficulty were handled far too easily, and even things he thought would be impossible were somehow accomplished. When expectations were raised to match his achievements, he grew beyond those expectations.

So how could he not have expectations?

‘If only he had a little ability to lead people.‘

His father and his older brother had it. But Wei Yan-ho lacked that ability.

Divine Strategist sighed quietly.

‘Foolish thoughts.‘

People couldn’t be perfect. Wei Yan-ho was already doing well. Expecting more from such a Wei Yan-ho was merely his own greed.

‘Then should I speak?‘

Though it was an obvious thing to do, a leader’s words had a very significant impact on morale.

He had casually tried to pass that task to Wei Yan-ho, but the truth was that Wei Yan-ho was still too young and lacked sufficient reputation for such a role. Moreover, if he himself felt awkward about it, what could be done?

Just as Divine Strategist was about to step forward, Wei Yan-ho made a casual remark.

“But they really are coming like a pack of dogs.”

“Have you ever seen such a strong pack of dogs?”

“Then should I call them a beggar horde?”

“Why are you bringing up beggars again here, man! What did beggars ever do wrong?”

“Beggar, beggar. Think carefully about it. Was what I just said an insult or a compliment? I have no idea how you became the Small Beggar of the Beggar’s Sect.”

Just as Jang-il was about to lose his temper, a sigh was heard from behind.

“The greatest mistake of this old man’s entire life was that.”

At Seven Finger Divine Beggar’s jest, Jang-il shouted loudly.

“Even King Beggar is saying that! At times like this, you should help your disciple!”

“Shut up, you fool! It’s the truth, so what’s there to help or not help!”

“Grrrr.“

Soft laughter spread through the group.

Divine Strategist watched the scene with gleaming eyes.

‘I don’t need to step forward.‘

Wei Yan-ho clearly knew instinctively. The fact that those gathered here shouldn’t be tense anymore. That’s why he deliberately raised his voice to needle Jang-il like that.

Seven Finger Divine Beggar also knew this fact, so he was playing the fool like that.

‘I don’t need to protect everything alone.‘

He wasn’t the only one who had experienced war, and the martial world had developed in the meantime. There was no need for Divine Strategist alone to act as if he carried the entire world on his shoulders.

At this moment, Divine Strategist put down the burden of Gwon Geuk’s death.

Whether there was something to rely on or not wasn’t such an important matter. More important was whether there were people to fight alongside.

Wei Yan-ho was never as perfect as Gwon Geuk. But if there were lacking parts, couldn’t he and others fill them?

His thoughts didn’t last long.

Before they knew it, the Hundred Swords Castle forces had approached right in front of them.

Everyone lost their words and stared at the sight. The Hundred Swords Castle forces viewed from the wide open field exuded incomparable intimidation.

But that would be the same for them too.

This side had more numbers.

And no matter how great the Hundred Swords Castle’s reputation might be, it couldn’t compare to the reputation of the Righteous Martial Alliance that now dominated the world.

The Hundred Swords Castle must also be receiving as much pressure as the Righteous Martial Alliance was receiving now. They had to be.

The forces came to a halt.

The thickly risen dust cloud slowly settled.

Even though forces capable of overturning the world were facing each other, not a single breath escaped.

‘A strange sight indeed.‘

A scene of such powers confronting each other was not something easily seen. Divine Strategist took a deep breath.

A different feeling from the Demonic Cult.

They weren’t as violent and extreme as them. And they weren’t free-spirited. But the perfectly arrayed white forces were enough to make even the renowned Divine Strategist tense.

Then one person walked forward.

Slowly, with steps that were never fast, the one who came to the center looked around the Righteous Martial Alliance and opened his mouth.

“It seems I should be grateful for the warm welcome.”

Heavenly Flow Sword.

Wearing a smile across his face, he bowed, his voice resonating with inner power.

“This humble one is called Baek Gong-ui.”

His waist bent down.

It was a courteous bow, but among those watching, no one could harbor goodwill toward that sight.

Courteous or not, the fact that this person was an enemy didn’t change. There was no reason to feel goodwill toward a polite enemy.

“Looking at the heroes of the Righteous Martial Alliance like this makes my heart feel proud. It’s just unfortunate that the situation isn’t good enough for us to exchange pleasantries with each other.”

“That doesn’t seem like something your side should be saying?”

Divine Strategist cut off Heavenly Flow Sword’s words and stepped forward.

“Oh, Military Strategist.”

“I’ve heard plenty about Heavenly Flow Sword’s reputation, but I never heard that Heavenly Flow Sword’s face was this thick. I don’t know whether I should be happy or sad to learn this new fact.”

“Hehehe, is there something even the Military Strategist doesn’t know? I thought the Military Strategist knew everything under heaven, but it seems that’s not the case.”

Divine Strategist gave a sardonic smile.

There wasn’t anything particular to say. But he had no intention of watching Heavenly Flow Sword lead the atmosphere as he pleased.

“I can’t know everything. I didn’t even know that the renowned Heavenly Flow Sword Baek Gong-ui was a villain with a human face and beast heart, so how could I dare claim to know all under heaven?”

“You said human face and beast heart?”

Heavenly Flow Sword’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

“Isn’t that so?”

But Divine Strategist’s expression was utterly leisurely.

“If not, an explanation seems necessary. Is there a reason for joining hands with the Demonic Cult to ravage the martial world?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know that?”

Heavenly Flow Sword’s voice grew increasingly loud.

“You haven’t forgotten your original sin, have you? Are you planning to cover your eyes now? Something the entire world already knows?”

“Listen here, Heavenly Flow Sword.”

Divine Strategist clicked his tongue.

“That’s a story from three hundred years ago.”

“So what if it is?”

“If I broke into someone else’s house, killed the family members, and said my ancestor was wronged by you, what do you think the response would be?”

“……”

“Yes, fine. That’s possible. If the resentment was too deep to not repay, I would have to understand. But the moment you brought in the Demonic Cult, all your legitimacy disappeared.”

Divine Strategist said firmly.

“How do you think history will remember you?”

“You’re stating the obvious, Military Strategist.”

Heavenly Flow Sword looked at Divine Strategist with strange eyes.

“How does history remember the Ten Thousand Swords? It only remembers as you wish it to. It’s disappointing that someone like you would spout such obvious nonsense. You must know that history is ultimately just a record of self-praise written by the victors.”

“So you’re trying to become the victor? By any means necessary?”

“Is there any reason why that shouldn’t be allowed?”

Heavenly Flow Sword laughed heartily.

“Listen here, Military Strategist.”

His voice lowered slightly.

“You can never understand us. Because you’re already the victors. Those who have cannot understand those who have not. Because what you have is so natural to you. Only those who have not can raise their voices against injustice.”

Heavenly Flow Sword slowly built up his momentum.

“You should be grateful to me. Because I will show you what it feels like to be those who have not. Ten Thousand Swords! Hundred Swords Castle! I will clearly show you what kind of feelings we’ve been watching you with all this time!”

Heavenly Flow Sword, who had cried out as if coughing up blood, added quietly.

“Of course, to do that, I’ll have to survive this war. But that won’t be easy either. Don’t blame the Ten Thousand Swords’ blades for being sharp.”

Just as Heavenly Flow Sword was about to add one more word, an irritated voice interrupted.

“What, is there still a lot left?”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward where the voice came from.