CLS-Chapter 676

Chapter 676:

“……Reorganization.”

Sagan swallowed dry saliva.

‘What tremendous words.’

It was already a thing of the past.

Though Sagan already knew that such events had not come to pass, he couldn’t help but break out in cold sweat at those arrogant words. Perhaps these emotions were felt even more intensely because the tension and fear that Gwanggushingae must have experienced at that time were conveyed directly through his voice.

“May I ask you something?”

Gwanggushingae quietly nodded his head.

“There’s an aspect I don’t quite understand. If what you’ve said is true, then are you saying that everyone present there lost their fighting spirit from just that single strike the Heavenly Demon displayed?”

“That’s right.”

“But that strike……”

Sagan tilted his head.

“I may be misunderstanding, but in terms of power, it doesn’t seem all that different from what Gwanghwi-mujon displayed. Rather, in terms of sheer power, didn’t Gwanghwi-mujon show something even greater……”

“You’re right.”

Gwanggushingae spoke decisively.

“Of course, that power that blew away a corner of Mount Hua was tremendous. But if we judge by the results shown, Wei Yan-ho was no less impressive. And the strike that Dang Cheon-geom displayed would be no less than that either.”

“Then why?”

“That’s a difficult question.”

Gwanggushingae let out a sigh.

It wasn’t a sigh born from difficulty in explaining, but rather his face showed that recalling that scene for the sake of explanation was quite unpleasant.

“How would you explain me to others if you had to?”

“……What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said.”

Sagan looked at Gwanggushingae with somewhat puzzled eyes.

If he had to explain Gwanggushingae……

“You write and speak, so you could probably explain quite accurately. But could you completely represent me with those words?”

“That would be difficult.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Gwanggushingae let out a low sigh.

“There are things in this world that cannot be expressed in words or writing. And what defines any event or person is largely occupied by those inexpressible parts. That was the same.”

Gwanggushingae’s face contorted hideously.

“It’s not about power or anything like that. The moment you see that strike, you realize it. Anyone who has learned martial arts would know…… that strike was from a different dimension. Not simply because it was strong. It was a realm that transcended everything we knew, a realm so incomprehensible that we couldn’t even grasp how to imitate it—that realm was contained within that strike.”

Gwanggushingae laughed hollowly.

“When I saw Wei Yan-ho’s martial arts, when I saw Dang Cheon-geom’s sword, I never thought such things. I knew that it was too lofty a realm, that even a lifetime of effort wouldn’t allow me to catch up. But…… it was different from that, different. The Heavenly Demon’s martial arts were not human.”

Gwanggushingae trembled as if the mere thought sent shivers down his spine.

“It was dark. My head went completely empty would be more accurate. No one there knew what to do.”

“Even with such people gathered there……”

“It would be difficult to understand. Even I find it hard to explain.”

Gwanggushingae chuckled.

“I was the same. My head went completely empty and I couldn’t think of anything. Have you ever seen such a sight? A mouse that encounters a cat nearby cannot move. It was exactly like that. I couldn’t do anything, nothing at all.”

“…….”

The conversation stopped.

The sense of helplessness flowing from Gwanggushingae seemed to infect even Sagan.

“But……”

Sagan raised his voice slightly to refresh the atmosphere.

“In the end, it was resolved, wasn’t it?”

“Resolved?”

“Yes. Since you are here alive like this. So Shin Gi-sua’s plan……”

“That’s not it.”

Before the words could even finish, Gwanggushingae cut off Sagan’s words.

“It’s not like that.”

Gwanggushingae spoke with a voice somewhat filled with regret.

“That person did their best. But that situation was not something that could be resolved with that person’s abilities. It was something that no one in the world could have resolved.”

“…….”

“We could only hope for a miracle. You wouldn’t understand that deep despair.”

“Then how?”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“Pardon?”

“That there was a hidden side to it.”

Gwanggushingae smiled faintly.

“Listen well. Now I’ll tell you the story you wanted to hear. Why that history had to be hidden.”

Gwanggushingae continued his story in a calm tone different from before.

***

Those who learn martial arts desire to become strong.

The reason the strong are respected in Gangho?

It’s simple. Because everyone yearns for strength.

In fact, what can even the greatest master under heaven actually do? Even the greatest master under heaven couldn’t face Shaolin alone.

But the world cheers for the number one under heaven even more than they revere Shaolin. The number one under heaven receives authority greater than what Shaolin possesses. This despite the fact that their actual power is incomparable.

Because an individual cannot defeat a group.

It’s irrational, but yearning is like that. Those who have learned martial arts all pursue individual strength. If they wanted to become strong as a group, they would go to the military rather than Gangho, wouldn’t they?

To the people of Gangho, the number one under heaven doesn’t simply refer to the strongest person in Gangho. They are a goal to be reached someday, an object of admiration.

Why?

Simply because they are strong.

There’s no need to think about it complexly. Those who live in Gangho are all people captivated by such fantasies.

Think about it. How terrible a place Gangho is.

It’s a place where even if you get into a quarrel with a strong person while walking down the road and die from a sword, no one will sympathize with you. Isn’t it a world where being strong becomes justice, where being strong becomes righteousness?

In places other than Gangho, they discuss the principles of Confucius and Mencius, and debate the laws that humans should uphold. If you think about it, the people of Gangho are no different from those who couldn’t keep up with such worldly trends and fell behind.

Survival of the fittest.

How cruel and ruthless these words are. But the people of Gangho still believe and follow those words like gospel.

……So they were punished.

Doesn’t survival of the fittest mean that it’s natural for the strong to devour the weak?

When they believed and followed those words, they must have believed that they could stand in the position of the strong.

But they encountered it.

An absolute predator.

A predator from a different dimension that couldn’t be overcome through effort.

Only then did they realize.

How cruel and terrible the words “survival of the fittest” truly were.

Though it was already too late.

***

His hands and feet trembled involuntarily.

There was a story he had heard countless times since he first learned martial arts from his master.

Do not lose your composure.

No matter how strong your opponent may be, you must never lose your composure. The moment you lose composure, your thinking becomes dull, and when thinking becomes dull, your hands and feet slow down, and when your hands and feet slow down, you cannot respond properly even in situations where you could survive.

Obvious words.

Not just his master, but other masters would have all said the same thing. These words were truth and maxim in Gangho.

Keep your head cool and your heart hot.

In any situation, you must not lose your calm. That calmness will save you.

‘Obvious nonsense.’

Jang Il bit his lips tightly.

These were words he had heard countless times from Wang Geoji and the other elders. Words that could never be emphasized enough no matter how many times they were repeated. And words he had engraved in his mind countless times.

But Jang Il realized in this moment.

How fragile his resolve, which he thought he had firmly engraved, truly was.

His heart was being constricted.

‘Maintain composure?’

A hollow laugh escaped.

His eyes were already dominated by the Heavenly Demon.

He couldn’t take his gaze away.

The moment he looked away, it felt as though the Heavenly Demon would slice his throat.

He knew.

Right now, at this moment, the Heavenly Demon had not the slightest interest in him. Just as a person walking through a forest pays no attention to the insects clinging to trees.

He would clearly recognize that he was here, but wouldn’t feel he was worth enough attention to care about.

He knew this.

But that was the Heavenly Demon’s perspective.

When a person enters a quiet forest, the insects stop their chirping. While insects might be nothing to a person, to the insects, a person is a threat they must stake their lives against.

Jang Il was in exactly that position right now.

The Heavenly Demon had done nothing to him. But Jang Il couldn’t take his eyes off the Heavenly Demon. His heart pounded at the Heavenly Demon’s every gesture, every breath.

‘Am I supposed to fight?’

It was absurd.

How……

How was he supposed to fight that being?

Ridiculous.

There are things possible through human strength, and things that are impossible. No matter how desperately an insect charges, it will only be crushed in a human hand.

Everything he had built up was worthless.

Martial arts, strategy…… at this moment, they lost all meaning. Only choice remained.

Would he risk his life to block the Heavenly Demon’s path to maintain his pride as a martial artist, or would he give up the hopeless fight and attempt to flee, trusting in a handful of possibilities?

“Heu……”

The outcome was predetermined either way.

If the Heavenly Demon did not permit it, no one could block his path, and no one could escape. At this moment, Mount Hua was completely in the palm of the Heavenly Demon’s hand.

Then…….

Then what exactly should he do?

What should he do when faced with an absolute enemy against whom he couldn’t even attempt resistance?

Jang Il’s gaze turned without his knowing.

His gaze fixed upon one person’s back.

Wei Yan-ho.

It wasn’t a consciously turned head. The moment he felt endless despair, he found himself following Wei Yan-ho’s back without realizing it.

And it seemed the same was true for the others. Gazes that had been directed toward the Heavenly Demon now focused on Wei Yan-ho.

Wei Yan-ho’s back.

Everyone’s gazes and wishes reached that still straight back.

Perhaps sensing this, Wei Yan-ho turned his head left and right.

“Hmm.”

Wei Yan-ho shook his sword a couple of times.

Jang Il recognized that this series of movements was an action to release tension.

But even that action seemed remarkable.

Suppressed by the Heavenly Demon’s presence, he could barely manage to turn his head. But Wei Yan-ho was calmly moving his sword with that Heavenly Demon right in front of him.

“I don’t understand something……”

Wei Yan-ho opened his mouth.

“Where have you been hiding all this time to have gained such power yet accomplished nothing?”

The Heavenly Demon looked at him with slightly surprised eyes.

“You’re quite composed?”

“Did you expect me to be frightened?”

“……A little.”

Wei Yan-ho chuckled.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve seen too much to be scared by that level.”

“…….”

“Honestly, I was a bit surprised. I never expected to see this in reality. It is impressive. But……”

Wei Yan-ho gripped his sword.

“I’ve seen more amazing things as easily as eating a meal. This level can’t make me cower.”

Baek Mu-han.

The shadow of that great martial artist was protecting Wei Yan-ho.