Chapter 527

Chapter 527: The Lazy One Who Resists (2)

“Wei Yanho.”

Jangil’s voice was overflowing with authority.

“I acknowledge you and respect you.”

There was such solemnity in his attitude that one couldn’t help but wonder if he had ever shown this side of himself. Jangil’s seriousness at this moment was unparalleled.

It was weight enough to understand why this man had stood out among the hundreds of thousands of members of the Beggar Sect, and why he had been chosen as the successor to lead the next generation of the group.

“Even though the world criticizes you and points you out as ignorant, I never doubted that in your brutal actions shone a spark of genius. If a petty man saw the path of one who follows the great justice, he would only see a series of incomprehensible acts. That’s why I refused to judge the ideals of a phoenix with the eyes of an insignificant being. Everything follows its natural course. I believed that if heaven had entrusted you with the task of straightening out this chaotic era, there would be a good reason.”

A resolute gleam emanated from Jangil’s eyes. In his tight-lipped expression, one could feel his determination.

His disheveled appearance was no obstacle.

The image of Jangil, with that gleam in his eyes, was undoubtedly that of someone worthy of proclaiming himself as the greatest sage in the world.

“With words, I reprimanded you and complained about my own difficulties, but I always believed in you. I never doubted that following you was saving the world from chaos. In the past, Emperor Wu of Wei committed adultery even when surrounded by enemies, and the First Emperor Qin built the Epang Palace to indulge in pleasure. The heroes of the world are those who, unflinchingly, commit acts that petty men cannot understand. I believed that you were like that too… No, I believed it, damn it!”

But that attitude didn’t last long.

Jangil’s eyes, which shone with determination, contorted in an instant.

“Hey, damn it! Damn it! For once, act like a human being, like a human being! Is what I’m asking so difficult? So difficult that you can’t do it and force me to reach this point? Please! Pleeeease!”

Jangil looked like he was about to cry his eyes out.

At this moment, Jangil understood.

The Demon Cult? Baekgeom Fortress?

Those were secondary problems.

As terrifying as the Demon Cult was, it wasn’t what was tormenting him at this instant. Perhaps in the future the odds would be high, but not right now.

The one who was killing him was Wei Yanho.

He had always been like this! Always!

There’s a saying: “Each day, renew yourself.”

It means becoming new as the days go by. It’s usually used to express admiration for the constant growth of a talent.

‘But to use it in such a negative way…’

Wei Yanho got worse day after day. At first, he was just a guy with strange and peculiar behaviors, but now…

Jangil looked at him with lost eyes, speechless.

“No… No! No, damn it!”

“Why is your voice getting so loud all of a sudden?”

“You should say something that makes sense! Something with sense!”

“What is it that doesn’t make sense?”

“Ah, but it’s just that!”

Tears welled up in Jangil’s eyes.

Looking at the others, their expressions weren’t much different. Although they didn’t speak, they all directed supportive glances towards Jangil.

It was understandable.

No one in their right mind could remain calm in this situation.

No one!

“No, damn it. No, Wei Yanho. No! Great Sage! Great Sage!”

Wei Yanho responded with an indifferent expression.

“It’s not usual for you to do this.”

“Please, reconsider. This is madness!”

“Hey! You, the beggar.”

“Yes.”

“I’m telling you it’s not as crazy as you think. Don’t you trust me?”

The tears in Jangil’s eyes finally rolled down his cheeks.

Trust?

Of course not, you lunatic!

Who in their right mind would trust you?

Jangil’s head slowly turned to one side. His eyes landed on a worn-out wall.

The wall.

Yes, just a wall.

Neither too high, nor too low, just normal.

An old wall, eroded by wind and sand for years.

But anyone in the martial world would know that it wasn’t just any wall.

Why?

“Crazy… Crazy, but to a certain extent.”

Because the wall that Jangil was seeing was none other than the wall of the Demon Cult.

Just seeing it made his legs tremble.

‘Not even in the imperial palace did I feel so intimidated.’

The most feared place for a common citizen is supposed to be the imperial palace. There shouldn’t be a place more terrifying than where the emperor resides. But in this world, there existed a place that made the imperial palace a warm refuge: that half-ruined wall.

The Demon Cult.

The thousand-year-old Demon Cult.

No matter how many arrogant factions there were in the world, who would dare to flaunt their power in front of the Demon Cult? The unadorned crudeness of the place only reinforced its aura of confidence, and the desolation without humans became a subtle fear that oppressed Jangil.

But…

But what?

“We’re going to attack there?”

“Yes.”

“The Demon Cult?”

“Yes.”

Seeing the tranquility with which Wei Yanho responded, Jangil felt the urge to strangle him.

“If you’re going to go crazy, do it with elegance!”

“Ha, wow. How scared you are, beggar.”

The life of a beggar is full of injustices.

It’s not uncommon for them to have water thrown on them for simply passing by the wrong place, or for their bowl to be broken for no reason.

There’s no beggar who hasn’t been beaten for no reason.

Even Jangil, although he was now part of the Beggar Sect, had also been a simple beggar. The hardships of those times were countless.

But Jangil prided himself on his manhood.

Although he had no riches and couldn’t avoid his beggar appearance, he was a brave man who had never shed a tear in the face of injustice. That was his pride.

But now…

‘I’d rather be beaten for no reason.’

The tears that had never before moistened his eyes now flowed uncontrollably. Not even when he was beaten to exhaustion for begging for a piece of cold bread had he cried like this.

“Hey, you lunatic! How are we going to attack the Demon Cult?”

“Ah, how noisy! You’re going to burst my eardrums.”

Jangil beat his chest.

How many crazy things had Wei Yanho done before? But what he was trying to do today made everything before seem like child’s play.

“How the hell are we going to attack that place!”

“Why not?”

“It’s the Demon Cult! The Demon Cult! Don’t you know what it is?”

“I know.”

“And you still say that? Seriously? Hey, lunatic. If you tell a neighborhood kid that six people are going to attack the Demon Cult, he’ll spit on you and hit you for being crazy.”

“It’s because you’re so negative that you’re still a beggar.”

“I don’t aspire to stop being a beggar!”

“That’s a compliment.”

Jangil rolled his eyes.

‘If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have become a beggar.’

No matter what he said, they always reduced him to his condition as a beggar. And since it was true, he couldn’t refute it. The frustration burned inside him until it almost came out of his mouth.

“…But, Yanho. This doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

Peng Dogeuk also cautiously observed Wei Yanho. Although he had recently shown a bold attitude, upon hearing that they planned to infiltrate the base of the Demon Cult with so few people, he regained his old timidity.

“My lord, may I speak frankly?”

“No.”

When Jegal Munin tried to intervene, Wei Yanho stopped him with a gesture. But when had Jegal Munin ever obeyed his orders?

“This is madness.”

“Amitabha!”

Musan cheerfully added his comment.

“Life and death are one, but do you know what it’s called to die without purpose?”

“How?”

“A stupid death, benefactor. I think you should refresh your head by submerging it in cold water.”

“… ”

How had a Shaolin monk ended up like this? Wei Yanho sighed as he looked at him.

“After eating meat all night, the monk has lost his mind.”

“Eh, when did I eat meat?!”

“Everyone ate a piece of jerky, but you ate two! And then you went rummaging through the supplies at dawn!”

“L-Look at my size! How am I supposed to survive on that?”

“So you did eat meat! The Buddha will hit your shaved head when he finds out!”

“…They say that ghosts who die eating look better.”

Musan had completely forgotten his identity as a monk.

“But, Yanho.”

Seeing that the situation wasn’t progressing, Wei Jeonghan spoke uncomfortably.

Although he had accepted that his adult son now surpassed him and had followed silently until here, he couldn’t help but think that this was madness.

“Are we really going to attack?”

“Yes.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

Before Wei Jeonghan could say more, Jangil tried to shout, but Wei Yanho raised a hand and stopped him.

“Calm your hysteria and listen to me first.”

“… ”

Wei Yanho made a sound of disgust and continued.

“Fine, think about it. The Demon Cult is invading the Central Plains, right?”

“Who doesn’t know that?”

“And this campaign is a decisive battle for them. If they lose, there will be no return. Right?”

“Obvious.”

Jangil nodded forcefully.

The Demon Cult and the Central Plains had already faced each other before with the intention of killing each other. A new battle meant that they were willing to fight to the death.

“Then they will have mobilized all their available forces. If they lose, they will die, what would they have left?”

“Don’t state the obvious!”

“Then what’s there?”

“… Huh?”

Wei Yanho pointed towards the Demon Cult.

“Everyone who knows how to fight has already gone to the Central Plains, right?”

“Y-Yes.”

“If I were the leader of the Cult, I would recruit anyone who could hold a sword, regardless of whether they are children or elders, to invade the Central Plains. Right?”

Jangil, mute as a fish, nodded.

“Then do you know what to call that place?”

“The… Demon Cult?”

Wei Yanho made a sound of disapproval at Jangil’s stupid answer.

“It’s called no man’s land, you idiot!”

Wei Yanho puffed out his chest and shouted.

“The best way to stop the enemy is to destroy their base! As much as they are the Demon Cult, as much as they say they have no heart or tears, do you think they will continue advancing towards the Central Plains if their home is in ruins?”

“T-Then what you want to do there is…?”

Wei Yanho wiped the drool from his mouth with his sleeve and replied maliciously.

“Let’s see if they can keep going to the Central Plains while their base burns and their treasure is looted!”

He placed special emphasis on the word “treasure.”

Seeing Wei Yanho’s eyes, full of greed, Jangil felt his soul leave his body.

He’s crazy.

This guy is completely crazy.