Chapter 523

# 523

“Baekgeom Fortress has mobilized.”

The Master of Divine Abilities froze with the teacup in his hand.

*So soon?*

No. It shouldn’t be this fast.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know Baekgeom Fortress had its eyes on the Central Plains. If he didn’t, they might as well call him a scarecrow.

But according to his calculations, Baekgeom Fortress couldn’t move yet.

Conquering the Central Plains inevitably carried risks. If it was conflicts between sects, there was a possibility of mediation, but if they faced the Central Plains head-on, failure would only leave destruction in its wake.

Of all who had invaded the Central Plains with the intention of conquering it so far, the only ones who preserved their legacy were external forces. As Baekgeom Fortress was an organization based in the Central Plains, its movements had to be limited.

“What about the Demon Cult?”

The Master of Divine Abilities’ voice rose.

If they were still moving, it meant they had another ace up their sleeve. That they had made such precise calculations that they could act despite the circumstances.

“A-ah, there’s no major news yet, but…”

“Investigate it! Send an urgent message immediately!”

“Yes!”

The Master of Divine Abilities slammed the table hard.

*Was I complacent?*

Not exactly.

He thought that if there was movement, the Demon Cult would act first. It was logical, considering the distance between the Cult and the Central Plains. No matter how demons flew, it would take time to arrive.

If Baekgeom Fortress acted alone, without the Cult, it would have to face the great clans of Henan on its own. A burden they certainly wouldn’t want to bear.

*And they’re still moving?*

He had overlooked something.

Otherwise, it made no sense.

The Master of Divine Abilities grabbed his jaw.

*What are they planning!*

His opponent was no fool.

He wasn’t one to underestimate the enemy. Thinking everyone danced to his tune was arrogance. In the world, there would always be someone superior. And even if they weren’t, they could devise strategies he hadn’t considered.

How many strategists had fallen like that in the past.

“Inform the Alliance Leader, right now!”

“Yes!”

“No!”

The Master of Divine Abilities jumped up and began to walk quickly.

“I’ll go personally.”

“Yes!”

“And…”

He stopped dead in his tracks.

“The Zhejiang branch?”

“……”

There was no response.

“I understand.”

After patting the messenger on the shoulder, he quickened his pace.

*Is it the beginning?*

His face darkened completely.

“Baekgeom Fortress finally…”

The Supreme Sovereign’s reaction wasn’t much different.

It was a situation they would face sooner or later. But if he could avoid it, he would.

It didn’t matter if they could beat them or not. In the end, war is a business where even the victor loses. When people die, what profits are there to calculate?

It meant a hell began where no one won.

“So soon?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t predict it in time.”

“…It’s not your fault. Who in the world could fault you? If you didn’t see it, no one else could.”

The Supreme Sovereign sighed deeply.

*If anyone is to blame, blame me.*

Although the Master of Divine Abilities had warned several times about Baekgeom Fortress, the Sovereign hadn’t allowed the Zhejiang branch to be reinforced.

There was no other option.

The moment they sent reinforcements to Zhejiang, Baekgeom Fortress and the Righteous Martial Alliance would become irreconcilable enemies. Who would negotiate with someone who deploys troops in their territory?

The Supreme Sovereign hadn’t lost hope.

As much as Baekgeom Fortress showed signs of collaborating with the Demon Cult, he believed they wouldn’t fully ally. They couldn’t be so foolish as to join the Cult against the world.

His faith in humanity had betrayed him.

“Why? Why would they do this?!”

Could it be said that the Supreme Sovereign was wrong?

Given the result, he couldn’t be given reason, but neither could it be said that his decision was incorrect. Aligning with the Cult was something difficult to accept.

Even with proof of their connection, no one dared attack Baekgeom Fortress. Who would believe the Han would ally with external forces to invade the Central Plains?

“Leader!”

At the urgency of the Master, the Supreme Sovereign exhaled deeply.

“I know.”

He brought his hand to his forehead.

*It starts again? Those horrible days.*

It was hopeless.

If they moved, the Cult would too. The Sovereign sighed. The Master, who understood the meaning of that sigh better than anyone, didn’t dare to press him.

“We must act.”

“Yes.”

“The preparations?”

“The Henan branch is on standby.”

“I understand.”

In Henan were the Namgung and Shaolin.

In other circumstances, Shaolin would have refused. They were always looking to free themselves from the Alliance’s influence. But in this situation, they had no choice. Discord would only lead to mutual destruction.

“The Cult will act.”

“It’s obvious.”

“Then we must deal with one first.”

The Supreme Sovereign’s face hardened.

In his mind, Baekgeom Fortress was still an ally. But from now on, he had to stop thinking like that. To survive.

“Strategist.”

“Yes, Leader!”

“As leader, I order: mobilize the Henan and Hubei branches. The headquarters will also provide support.”

“I will receive your orders.”

“There can be no mistakes. Before the Cult acts, we must defeat Baekgeom Fortress! It’s not necessary to annihilate them, but they must suffer damage that prevents them from joining this war.”

“Yes!”

The Master of Divine Abilities made a fist and stood up.

“L-Leader!”

At that moment, an urgent voice came from outside.

“What is it?”

“An urgent message! An urgent message has arrived!”

“From Zhejiang?”

“No! From Qinghai!”

Upon hearing “Qinghai,” both faces paled as if lime had been put on them.

“Bring it! Now!”

The door burst open, and a messenger entered with the document. The Sovereign snatched it and opened it roughly.

His eyes widened.

The Master’s face was also tense. Although it was the Supreme Sovereign who was reading the message, he didn’t need to see it to know what it said.

A message from Qinghai could only mean one thing.

“These bastards…”

A moan escaped from the Sovereign’s lips.

But there was no time for panic. Every second they lost increased the casualties.

“Strategist!”

“Yes, Leader! Right now!”

“First, check this!”

The Sovereign extended the message to him.

The Master hesitated for a moment, but took it without question. If the content were obvious, he wouldn’t have asked for it. As he read, his expression changed subtly.

“The Wei of Guangdong!”

“To say the timing is opportune…?”

The Supreme Sovereign’s countenance darkened.

The message said that Wei Jeonghan and the Wei of Guangdong were currently in Qinghai.

“There’s no margin.”

“…That’s right.”

The Supreme Sovereign pursed his lips.

“We must… buy time.”

“Yes.”

He brought his hand to his eyes and rubbed them.

How long had it been since he last felt this? Ordering the death of an acquaintance, of a friend… He never thought he would relive this damned situation.

“Can they buy time?”

“Very little. But…”

“Is it better than not giving the order?”

“Yes.”

“Listen, Strategist.”

“Yes.”

The Supreme Sovereign stared at him.

“Wei Jeonghan is important, but Wei Yanho is someone we cannot lose. What are his chances of surviving if he throws himself into a battle of attrition against the Cult?”

“…It depends on how they act, but it doesn’t reach 30%.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to order their retreat and use them as the main force?”

“Leader.”

The Master pursed his lips.

“Is it the Leader’s judgment or Sima Cheonse’s?”

“……”

The Sovereign closed his eyes tightly.

Now it wasn’t Sima Cheonse but the Leader of the Righteous Martial Alliance. There was no room for personal opinions.

As Sima Cheonse, he would order their immediate retreat. He wouldn’t want to lose Wei Jeonghan and Wei Yanho. But as Leader, he couldn’t do it.

“That’s why I ask.”

“Wei Yanho, Wei Jeonghan… each of them is a valuable asset. But right now, nothing is more important than delaying the Cult’s advance even a little.”

“…You’re right.”

It was the answer he expected. The one he knew he would hear, and that’s why he didn’t want to hear it.

“Yes, it is so. Then it must be.”

The Supreme Sovereign nodded slowly.

“Act!”

“Yes!”

The Master ran out without saying more. The guards were alarmed to see him moving with a speed never seen before.

The scream of fury that came from the Leader’s hall was enough for them to know that something serious was happening. But the Master’s urgency raised the tension even further.

The Sovereign, now alone in the hall, sat down slowly and covered his face.

*Where is the world going?*

They had already fought a war. The scars hadn’t even healed when another was beginning.

This would be much more brutal than the previous one. Both sides knew each other too well. It was a war that wouldn’t begin without the certainty of victory or the determination to reach the end.

The swords wouldn’t rest until one of the two sides fell completely.

“The world…”

He was short of breath.

Nothing had changed in the hall, but the air felt heavy and sticky. That feeling, the oppressive atmosphere of the battlefield, had already permeated everything.

*Jeonghan, my friend…*

Why did you have to go there?

Pushing his most beloved disciple towards death was heartbreaking. But that’s what it means to lead. Sometimes you must make inhuman decisions calmly. Whoever isn’t ruthless has no right to rule.

Although this wasn’t the place he chose…

“I must not evade my responsibility.”

The Supreme Sovereign rose slowly. He had already grieved enough. Now it was time to act.

Soon everyone would know.

That today’s world wouldn’t be the same as yesterday’s.

That the dawn of war was approaching.