CLS-Chapter 644

Chapter 644:

Thud.

Wei Yan-ho’s back touched Shin Gi-sua’s chest.

Wei Yan-ho quietly turned his head.

“Where are you going?”

“Uh… Grandfather, you don’t seem to understand the current situation.”

“Hmm?”

“I think I need to vomit right now?”

“……”

Shin Gi-sua raised his head and looked up at the sky.

Thanks to Dan Cheon-geom splitting the sky, the clear blue heavens came into view very clearly.

Annoyingly so.

‘Why don’t humans change?’

No, it’s not humans—it’s Wei Yan-ho who doesn’t change.

No matter how firm one’s humanity and identity might be, after seeing and experiencing so much, shouldn’t one’s character change at least a little?

So why is this person so consistent from beginning to end?

“……Is he that strong?”

“You’re asking that after seeing what you saw?”

He saw it.

He saw it properly and clearly.

“Of course, he does look strong, but……”

To be honest, Shin Gi-sua couldn’t gauge the level of absolute powerhouses. He could only guess. In other words, to Shin Gi-sua’s eyes, both Wei Yan-ho and Dan Cheon-geom looked equally inhuman in their strength.

“Don’t you think you could block him?”

“Ah, you’re good at jokes too. How could I possibly block him?”

“……Really can’t be done?”

“People have things they can do and things they can’t do. I learned that trying to force what can’t be done is not what a gentleman should do.”

“You’re not a gentleman though.”

“That’s true, but still.”

Wei Yan-ho laughed awkwardly.

“So let’s just rush him while we have the chance.”

“……Huh?”

“He’s still human, so if Eorim-gun and Jeongmu-maeng all charge together, how hard could it be to handle one person? A sword will pierce through!”

Wei Yan-ho was saying what others had said to Wei Yan-ho.

But the situation didn’t flow the way Wei Yan-ho wanted.

Baek Gong-do, who had been quietly looking around, slowly opened his mouth.

“I say, Shin Gi-sua, and General Yuk-ui.”

A voice that wasn’t loud.

But strangely, it echoed widely and could be heard clearly.

Both Shin Gi-sua and General Yuk-ui had no choice but to hold their breath and look at Dan Cheon-geom.

Dan Cheon-geom didn’t continue speaking immediately, but quietly looked up at the sky.

But no one could rush Dan Cheon-geom. At least in this moment, Dan Cheon-geom completely dominated this place. Before his overwhelming presence, even the great army held its breath, and Jeongmu-maeng closed its mouth.

“Too much blood has been spilled.”

“……”

“I don’t lament that blood. Sometimes there are things that can only be resolved with blood. What I lament is not the blood flowing here, but what the martial world will have to endure going forward.”

Shin Gi-sua nodded.

He could understand what Dan Cheon-geom was saying.

The scales that had tilted found balance again with Dan Cheon-geom’s appearance.

‘Tremendous blood will flow.’

Though Eorim-gun’s reinforcement had seized the advantage, now the direction of victory had gone to a place even Shin Gi-sua couldn’t predict. All he could foresee was that whoever won would also have to spill enormous amounts of blood.

No, if this war continued, there would be no such thing as a victor. Even if they grasped the hollow result called victory while covered in wounds, they would end up handing everything over to the Demonic Cult that arrived afterward.

In the end, only the path where everyone loses remained.

But how could they continue this war out of hatred for each other without looking behind them?

“Then what do you propose to do?”

That was the problem.

Having come this far, they had spilled too much blood to withdraw just because the outcome didn’t look favorable. Their hatred for each other reached the heavens, and now retreating by mutual agreement was impossible.

“It’s a difficult matter.”

Dan Cheon-geom quietly shook his head.

“But it’s not so difficult either. No one desires mutual destruction. That’s why I want to propose one thing.”

“A proposal?”

“That’s right.”

Dan Cheon-geom’s gaze fixed on one place.

Jeongmu-maeng.

Shin Gi-sua.

No, precisely on Wei Yan-ho, who stood awkwardly next to Shin Gi-sua.

“It’s a classical method. If we must settle things between us but cannot waste each other’s strength, in the end, the leaders must cross swords, mustn’t they?”

Shin Gi-sua’s brow furrowed.

It was an obvious method.

But it was also a method neither side preferred. In stories of the past, it wasn’t uncommon for leaders’ duels to settle everything instantly with both sides accepting the outcome, but reality wasn’t like that.

There was no way people who had been fighting for their lives could accept a battle’s outcome being decided through a fight they didn’t personally participate in.

Perhaps.

Maybe Baek Geom-seong could do it. Their faith in their Sect Leader seemed unshakeable.

But Jeongmu-maeng……

Shin Gi-sua glanced sideways at Wei Yan-ho. As their gazes met, Wei Yan-ho startled and said,

“Me? Why? Why are you looking at me?”

‘Can I entrust fate to this bastard?’

He wasn’t confident.

Though Shin Gi-sua trusted Wei Yan-ho more than anyone, he didn’t want to entrust the martial world’s fate to Wei Yan-ho. That trust and this trust were different.

“This side has no leader.”

“You’re stating the obvious.”

Dan Cheon-geom shook his head with a gentle smile.

“If Gwon Geuk were alive, could you have put him forward as a representative?”

“……”

“He was a remarkable person. But he couldn’t represent the martial world with that martial prowess. Right now, only one person is qualified for that.”

Dan Cheon-geom’s gaze pierced Wei Yan-ho.

“Wei Yan-ho.”

“……”

“If it’s Gwang-hwi Geom-hyeop, it’s possible.”

Everyone’s gaze followed Dan Cheon-geom toward Wei Yan-ho.

“……”

Wei Yan-ho couldn’t withstand those subtle stares and stepped back slightly.

“No, first of all, don’t step back!”

“How can I not step back here!”

“I’m not telling you to fight, so don’t act so pathetically, you fool!”

“I’ll lose my head while trying to save face!”

Wei Yan-ho’s eyes widened as he rebelled.

Then Shin Gi-sua had no choice but to flinch.

‘Damn it.’

If his grandson had glared at him and argued like this, he would have cracked his head right there. But the strong guy is the gangster, isn’t he?

“And old man!”

Wei Yan-ho turned his head sharply to look at Dan Cheon-geom and pointed at him.

“Do you have some grudge against me? Representative, what representative?”

“……”

Bewilderment appeared on Dan Cheon-geom’s face.

It was a natural reaction.

Information about Wei Yan-ho overflowed within Baek Geom-seong. But what kind of person Wei Yan-ho was didn’t reach the Sect Leader level. That wasn’t considered important enough.

The part about Wei Yan-ho’s personality was filtered out at Baek Hoe-myeong’s level—that is, at the Vice Sect Leader level.

So he had no choice but to be flustered.

“Gr-grudge?”

“If you don’t have a grudge, then why are you doing this to me! There are quite a few people here, you know? With all these people here, what representative am I supposed to be? This place is overflowing with distinguished figures!”

“Distinguished people?”

Dan Cheon-geom tilted his head.

“For example, Shaolin’s Sect Leader!”

“Kheuheheuhem! Amitabha, this humble monk absolutely cannot take on such a role! It’s far too presumptuous a position.”

“Or Wudang’s Sect Leader!”

“Immeasurable Buddha, how could I covet such a position? I shall decline.”

“Or the top of the Five Great Families, Namgung Family’s……”

“Namgung Family is not the head of the Five Great Families! It’s Dang Family! Dang Family!”

“……”

Wei Yan-ho turned around with strange eyes. But those whose eyes met his were all busy avoiding Wei Yan-ho’s gaze.

‘He should say something that makes sense.’

‘Who’s he telling to fight whom? I’d rather bite a sword and die.’

‘It’s fine to die, but there’s no need to die publicly……’

They had seen a person split the sky.

Though they too lived in the martial world, who could have imagined they’d witness such a scene with their own eyes?

Fight against such a being?

A rabbit charging at a tiger would have better odds.

“No!”

Wei Yan-ho exploded in anger.

“Do the gentlemen who used to swagger about protecting the martial world want to stick their asses out like that and push forward a young kid?”

“You’re not exactly an ordinary young guy.”

“Even so!”

At that moment, Wei Jeong-han stepped forward and blocked Wei Yan-ho’s path.

“Military Advisor.”

“……”

As Wei Jeong-han stared with a stern face, Shin Gi-sua had nothing more to say.

What could he say to a father trying to protect his son? Moreover, Wei Jeong-han was someone who wouldn’t hesitate to step forward if such a situation befell himself. Since such a person was trying to protect his own child, Shin Gi-sua wasn’t shameless enough to argue about duty.

“Child.”

The one who resolved that situation was none other than Dan Cheon-geom himself.

“Come here.”

“I said I’m fine.”

Dan Cheon-geom smiled.

“It’s useless no matter what you say. I came here solely to see you alone.”

“……What?”

“The direction of the world…… Such things aren’t that important. I’m not foolish enough to waste energy on something with a predetermined outcome. The reason I came here is to see possibility.”

“……”

“Even if all my children die here, I won’t take my eyes off you. So come here.”

“Hah……”

Wei Yan-ho let out a deep sigh.

He couldn’t understand what was being said, but he could clearly sense that determination. Just looking at those eyes told him everything. Dan Cheon-geom would absolutely not let Wei Yan-ho escape.

“I’m seriously injured.”

“You seem to have recovered quite a bit already.”

“No, it really hurts?”

“That’s what war is. Surely you’re not suggesting we have a duel in perfect condition?”

“Not exactly, but……”

Wei Yan-ho shrugged his shoulders.

“I can’t help but think it’s a bit harsh.”

“You must bear it.”

Step.

Dan Cheon-geom took one step forward.

It was just one step. One step from this great distance. But the moment he took that step, Wei Yan-ho felt pressure as if Mount Tai had settled on his body.

“Considering what you’ll have to face in the future, this is nothing.”

“……What exactly are you talking about?”

“Step forward, child of Ten Thousand Swords.”

Shing.

Dan Cheon-geom slowly drew his sword.

Then he aimed it at Wei Yan-ho.

“If you’re one who inherits the lineage of Ten Thousand Swords, you cannot avoid my sword. Let’s see if Ten Thousand Swords has been properly passed to you. Whether your Ten Thousand Swords is more correct than the Ten Thousand Swords we inherited.”

Wei Yan-ho’s eyebrows twitched.

“I can endure everything else, but……”

Step.

Wei Yan-ho also took one step forward.

“It’s hard to endure when you talk about Ten Thousand Swords like that. I guess I’ll have to show you what real Ten Thousand Swords is like.”

Shing.

Wei Yan-ho also drew his sword. His white sword gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.

“Because it seems like I’ll get scolded otherwise.”

To Wei Yan-ho, Baek Mu-han in the afterlife was a hundred times scarier than Dan Cheon-geom standing before him.