CLS-Chapter 635

Chapter 635:

Baek Mu-han?

Cheon-ryu’s eyes held complex emotions.

Anger, shame, hostility. But among all these feelings, the most prominent was undoubtedly bewilderment.

Why was Baek Mu-han’s name coming up in this place?

‘Could it be?’

There was something that bothered him.

Wei Yan-ho’s sword.

Wei Yan-ho’s sword was of a type that Cheon-ryu had never seen even once before.

The Ten Thousand Swords encompasses all swords under heaven.

In other words, the Ten Thousand Swords contains the profound principles of all sword arts under heaven. That’s why achieving mastery in the Ten Thousand Swords was nearly impossible.

It took a lifetime just to understand and master the countless sword principles melted within it. While martial artists from other sects learned and developed numerous martial arts, the Ten Thousand Sword Family spent their entire lives learning only the Ten Thousand Swords.

Even then, they couldn’t properly grasp even the tail end of mastery, let alone achieve it.

In other words, it meant that the Ten Thousand Swords contained that many sword principles. So many that even a considerable genius couldn’t digest them all even if they devoted their entire life to it.

It wasn’t a boast, but Cheon-ryu had mastered most of the sword principles melted within the Ten Thousand Swords. However, none of the sword principles he knew matched Wei Yan-ho’s sword.

A completely new martial art.

But…

‘It has the scent of the Ten Thousand Swords.’

Of course, no one looking at Wei Yan-ho’s sword now would think of the Ten Thousand Swords. Its form had become completely removed from the Ten Thousand Swords.

But Cheon-ryu could tell.

Though its form was completely different, he could definitely sense traces of the Ten Thousand Swords in Wei Yan-ho’s sword. Anyone who knew the Ten Thousand Swords and crossed swords with Wei Yan-ho would be able to tell, not just Cheon-ryu.

A doubt pressed down firmly.

From whom did Wei Yan-ho learn the Ten Thousand Swords?

Now the clue to that doubt was slowly unraveling.

“How dare you speak of the Sword Emperor?”

Cheon-ryu said with a hardened face.

“Did your sword perhaps come from the Sword Emperor?”

Even as he spoke, Cheon-ryu was coming to understand.

There was no need to even hear an answer.

Wei Yan-ho was a monster.

Wei Yan-ho couldn’t be expressed with the simple word ‘genius.’ Wei Yan-ho was truly a monster in name and reality.

And such a monster couldn’t appear naturally.

Abilities that transcended age might somehow be resolved through talent. But that absurd proficiency and understanding of the sword couldn’t be achieved alone.

Even the great grandmasters under heaven hadn’t shown such a level of understanding at Wei Yan-ho’s age. A master must exist.

And that master…

‘Is such a thing possible?’

Somewhere in the world, a descendant of the Sword Emperor that even they didn’t know about might have existed. There was every possibility of that. Since Baek Sword Castle also hid the fact that they were the Ten Thousand Swords, they too might not have known that the Ten Thousand Sword Family hadn’t yet been completely destroyed.

But even if they were descendants of the Sword Emperor, could they raise such a monster without reaching the realm of the Sword Emperor themselves?

“Who knows.”

Wei Yan-ho shrugged his shoulders.

“Does that matter?”

“…”

Cheon-ryu bit his lips tightly.

Wei Yan-ho was right.

What did it matter?

Even if Wei Yan-ho was a descendant of the Ten Thousand Swords who inherited the Sword Emperor’s true teachings, now he and Wei Yan-ho were in a relationship where they could never reconcile. The resentment built up between them was too deep to forget everything just because they shared the same roots.

What would change by knowing such things now?

“…You occasionally hit the core.”

“Hehe, I have that kind of side to me.”

Looking at Wei Yan-ho scratching the back of his head, Cheon-ryu found himself smiling without realizing it.

‘What would it have been like if we hadn’t met as enemies?’

It might have been quite interesting.

If their relationship hadn’t gotten so twisted, he might have gained an adorable grandson. Then he would have been infinitely proud.

A descendant of the Ten Thousand Swords advancing toward being the best under heaven. Creating achievements that even the Sword Emperor couldn’t accomplish.

‘Useless thoughts.’

Cheon-ryu steeled his mind.

He was an enemy.

His personal feelings didn’t matter one bit. The important fact was that Wei Yan-ho was an enemy who must be killed, and the greatest obstacle to their great plan.

“I’m grateful that you’d teach me a lesson, but I have no confidence in facing you alone. But Baek Sword can face the Righteous Alliance as much as needed.”

“That doesn’t sound like something a martial artist should say.”

“Then I’ll just abandon being a martial artist.”

Cheon-ryu wasn’t shaken in the slightest.

And Wei Yan-ho wasn’t disappointed either. He hadn’t thought they would come out easily from the beginning.

He just regretted the blood that would have to be spilled.

‘What do they want so badly?’

They were truly incomprehensible people.

Fame, wealth…

In the end, people must move according to what they hold in their hands. To have more, they have no choice but to work harder.

If they were just a little less greedy, they could live comfortably.

In the end, what led them here was greed. For Wei Yan-ho, it was something completely incomprehensible.

Revenge, or dominating the martial world. What meaning did such things have?

For Wei Yan-ho, such things were worth less than a warm blanket.

So he should let them know.

How precious it was to finish the day’s work and return to a comfortable bed.

“Hmm.”

Wei Yan-ho lightly scratched his head.

“Let’s start without wasting time. Even while we’re doing this, the Demonic Cult bastards are probably attacking.”

Wei Yan-ho took a step forward.

Cheon-ryu narrowed his eyes.

Wei Yan-ho’s manner of stepping forward seemed as if he intended to face them all alone.

“I’m asking just in case, but are you planning to fight alone?”

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”

“You’re going to face us alone, leaving the Righteous Alliance behind?”

“If the reason you attacked was to face the Righteous Alliance and not me, I could step aside?”

“Huh.”

Cheon-ryu shook his head as if he couldn’t understand at all.

‘I can’t tell what he’s thinking.’

To him, Wei Yan-ho was truly an incomprehensible figure. Not only his abilities, but from his personality to his thoughts, there wasn’t a single thing he could understand.

“I have to admit that boldness. You alone…”

“Let’s stop there.”

“Hmm?”

When Wei Yan-ho cut him off, Cheon-ryu raised his eyebrows.

“What you’re saying now sounds like what a strong person says to a weak person. You shouldn’t say such things carelessly. Because I’m stronger.”

“…”

Cheon-ryu wasn’t particularly flustered. But Baek Hoe-myeong was biting his lips tightly.

Humiliating.

Utterly humiliating.

He could endure the humiliation he received. But the fact that even Cheon-ryu was receiving humiliation was making him unable to bear it.

“Looking and looking, your arrogance pierces the heavens. Do you think you can face Baek Sword Castle alone?”

“Hey, there are people who think they can be safe even after joining hands with the Demonic Cult, so this much is cute, right?”

“This bastard!”

When Baek Hoe-myeong took a step forward, Wei Yan-ho stuck out his belly.

“What? Want to fight?”

“…Grr!”

Baek Hoe-myeong wasn’t a fool.

No matter how angry he was, he wasn’t stupid enough to forget that rushing at Wei Yan-ho was a suicidal act.

Cheon-ryu’s expression also darkened as he blocked Baek Hoe-myeong.

‘I shouldn’t have spoken.’

It was wrong to exchange words with Wei Yan-ho. Wei Yan-ho was always confident. He had been like that even when facing them.

Would that appearance be damaged even if they all rushed at Wei Yan-ho and killed him?

Rather, wouldn’t it just leave behind the legend that he faced Baek Sword Castle alone?

Cheon-ryu closed his eyes.

‘I wanted to become like that.’

When he first picked up a sword, he wanted to become such a confident martial artist. One who wouldn’t submit to any strong power and would carry out his own will.

A martial artist who wouldn’t bend his will even if it meant fighting the entire world.

A martial artist who valued conviction more than life.

Wei Yan-ho was walking the path of that martial artist that everyone dreams of but no one can achieve.

It was infinitely sorrowful for Cheon-ryu that all he could send to such a person was not respect and admiration, but a cold blade.

“Now…”

“Yes. I think we’ve talked enough. By nature, I can’t waste more time. Let’s begin.”

Wei Yan-ho strode forward.

He wouldn’t give up the initiative until the end. Whether it was his nature or thoroughly calculated, Cheon-ryu couldn’t shake the impression that he was ultimately being led by Wei Yan-ho until the very end.

But…

‘I’ll give you the honor.’

They no longer had any honor left to protect anyway. There was only one thing they had to take. Even if it meant abandoning everything, they would take Wei Yan-ho’s head.

Only then could they discuss the name of the Ten Thousand Swords again.

“The enemy is strong.”

It was something he didn’t need to say.

But Cheon-ryu deliberately brought it up. He acknowledged the opponent. Only then could he pour out everything.

“Therefore be resolute! We kill Wei Yan-ho! And today we will also bring down the Righteous Alliance!”

Cheers erupted. Rather than cheers rising from burning morale, they were cheers meant to steady themselves as they hesitated.

“Attack!”

“Let’s go!”

With boiling cheers, Baek Sword’s great army began to advance.

Anyone seeing that sight head-on would feel their legs go weak. Swordsmen with raised spirits were rushing in like white waves.

“Tsk.“

Wei Yan-ho straightened his waist upon seeing that scene.

‘How long will this take?’

He had acted confident, but seeing those rushing toward him, it was also true that he felt intimidated.

But he couldn’t run away either.

If running away would solve things, he would have fled without a moment’s hesitation. Wei Yan-ho didn’t care about things like dignity or honor. Honor that comes after death is utterly useless.

But if running away wouldn’t solve the situation?

He had to fight.

If there was no path behind, he had no choice but to go forward. Wei Yan-ho’s eyes flashed as he rushed forward.

That round, bulky body charged forward in a waddle.

“Urachaaaaaaa!“

And light.

Wei Yan-ho’s entire body was covered in brilliant light. Wei Yan-ho, who had leaped into the air, emitted light in all directions.

‘That…’

Cheon-ryu flinched.

Wei Yan-ho was emitting light like the sun.

Baek Sword’s army, which had been rushing forward, hesitated at that bizarre sight beyond comparison.

They were momentarily overwhelmed in terms of momentum.

“Don’t retreat!”

Cheon-ryu urged them on.

“The Ten Thousand Swords knows no retreat!”

Movement returned to Cheon-ryu’s voice. But that too was brief.

Kwaaaaaaaaa!

With a roar like a waterfall, waves of light poured from Wei Yan-ho’s body.

Endlessly undulating masses of light flowed violently like a river swollen by heavy rain and struck Baek Sword’s army.

“A-avoid it!”

“Fall back!”

It wasn’t particularly fast.

But an army gathered together couldn’t move as nimbly as when alone.

Those who became entangled and couldn’t avoid in time were swept away by the rapids of light.

The war was beginning splendidly.