Chapter 529

# 529

*”A scholar must know where he will die.”*

People are judged by how they lived, but also by how they died. He who chooses his place of death well can leave his name in history with a single final act, even if he lived like a mess his whole life.

Jangil knew that very well.

But he also didn’t forget another thing:

*”It’s better to live wallowing in a dung heap than to die…”*

Jangil had not the slightest interest in glorifying his name with a spectacular death. What good was the glory gained after death?

For him, a plate of cold rice in his bowl at that moment was more important than all the praise that could be poured on his grave after his death.

“So you’re a beggar.”

“… Did you learn to read minds?”

“It says so on your face.”

“Grrrr…”

At another time, he would have responded with sarcasm, but now he had neither the mood nor the energy. His heart was pounding so hard that he felt it might jump out of his throat at any moment.

Although Jangil considered himself a brave man (at least locally), he could not calm down now.

It was understandable.

Before his eyes stretched the image of a common village. There was a slight atmosphere of tension, but it was the kind of scene that could be found in any corner of the world.

But how could he call this “common”?

*It’s the Demon Cult, you damn madman!*

Jangil beat his chest with his fist.

What he was seeing now was the inside of a Demon Cult city. Common, but not ordinary at all!

“Haa! Haa! Haa!”

“… Don’t blow on my neck like you’re dying.”

“Haa! Haa! Haa!”

“… You’re crazy, really.”

Wei Yanho frowned at the sight of Jangil trembling. If someone like him was the future leader of the Beggar Sect, then the sect’s fate was as clear as fire.

“Beggar, calm down a bit.”

Jegal Munin also stepped in to help Wei Yanho.

“Do you think I’m in a position to calm down?”

“What good is such a small liver?”

“Damn it, a bold beggar is good for nothing! A good beggar is one who survives without going hungry, saving every last grain of fallen rice.”

“How eloquent.”

Jegal Munin shook his head in exasperation.

It seemed that even for him, winning a verbal argument against this beggar was no easy task.

“Everyone, silence!”

“Yes, sir!”

But authority still worked.

Wei Jeonghan looked disapprovingly at Wei Yanho and the others, who continued to mutter and criticize each other even in this situation.

*Lunatics.*

Objectively, all those gathered here were exceptional talents.

In this vast world, they were not the only ones who deserved to be called geniuses, but Wei Yanho’s friends were, without exception, extraordinary. Not only for their abilities…

*But none of them are right in the head.*

In vulgar terms, they were lunatics.

The problem was that these lunatics were growing rapidly. Left to their own devices, they would have been the pillars of the martial world in the future.

Musan was the future leader of Shaolin, raised as a jewel. Jegal Munin was the young master of the Jegal family, known for manipulating the world with his intellect. Jangil was the future of the Beggar Sect, whose influence spread throughout the world. And Peng Dogeuk was the rightful heir to the Peng family of Hebei, unbeatable on the path of the sword.

Had they not crossed paths with Wei Yanho, they would have been the pillars of the martial world. But now…

“Hey, you piece of sh*t beggar! Stop complaining.”

“You, who preach the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, have a rag in your mouth?”

“Even Confucius would have fainted at the sight of you.”

“I agree. Amituofo.”

“You bastard monk! How could Shaolin produce someone like you?”

“You are all just as crazy, aren’t you, beggar?”

“You all have ‘beggar’ in your mouths!”

“If I call you a beggar, what’s the problem, beggar?”

Jangil grabbed his head at Peng Dogeuk’s words.

“If I’m reborn, it will be as a rich man!”

“Sure, in a family of pig farmers. They can’t be poor.”

“What did you say, you bastard?”

Wei Jeonghan shook his head in despair.

Those future pillars of the martial world were completely ruined. If they came to power, what would happen to the world?

And the worst thing was… that they kept getting stronger.

As absurd as it sounded, Wei Yanho was an exceptional teacher. In terms of teaching ability, Wei Jeonghan didn’t even come close.

Why?

Because he was ruthless.

Wei Yanho did not tolerate Lazy. If Jangil or Peng Dogeuk showed the slightest sign of laziness, he would shout at them: *”How can you sleep with your current level?”* and force them to train, even tapping them with his feet if necessary.

And he was not kind when training them. His tongue was so sharp that it tore people’s pride and made them seethe with rage.

*”It’s a good thing he’s my son.”*

If he wasn’t, Wei Jeonghan would have suffered the same fate. In fact, seeing the respected masters of the martial world humiliated and torn apart by Wei Yanho, he couldn’t help but feel chills on more than one occasion.

It was terrifying to think that Wei Yanho was the son of the Wei family, but even more terrifying to imagine that he belonged to another family.

In any case, Wei Yanho’s friends were accumulating strength at a terrifying rate. Compared to when he met them, the change was like heaven and earth.

*”Of course, they’ve been through a lot too.”*

Thanks to their connection with Wei Yanho, they had experienced in an instant what others would not live in a lifetime. It was normal for them to grow, whether in skill or mental strength.

But there was one detail…

“Ah! They’re worse than the Demon Cult!”

“Hey, the beggar is calling us dirty.”

“Hahahahaha! Pathetic beggar.”

Where there is gain, there is loss. As they acquired skills and power, they were losing their humanity. Who could call them worthy heirs to great clans? They were a gang of thugs.

“Silence, you bastards!”

“Yes, Great Hero Wei.”

“We’re sorry.”

At least his authority still worked. Just recently, these same guys were laughing at the words of the Dark King… Was it a good thing that Wei Yanho was his son?

“But… there doesn’t seem to be anything to worry about here.”

Wei Jeonghan nodded at Jegal Munin’s words.

*”They really took everyone.”*

Wei Yanho was right. The Demon Cult was waging total war. A total war meant using all available resources. In a conventional war, some men would be left to cultivate and maintain supplies, but they did not need supplies.

They were a large army, but they were not.

By the standards of the martial world, they were numerous, but by the standards of the world, they were nothing more than a handful. They didn’t need to loot; they could sustain themselves with what they obtained from defeated enemies and minor requisitions from civilians.

So they took everyone capable. Since they arrived, they had seen several people, but no young men.

“Is it completely empty?”

“How could it be?”

Wei Yanho shook his head at Wei Jeonghan’s question.

“There are sure to be those who weren’t taken. There’s no point in dragging old demons who might die along the way. But, anyway, a few old men are not a threat.”

“Mmm…”

Wei Jeonghan nodded.

He was still not sure if this was a good idea. Wei Yanho approved of it, and Jegal Munin and Jangil didn’t object, so he simply went with the flow. Of course, if he said it out loud, Jegal Munin and Jangil would protest, asking when they had given their approval.

But, even so, Wei Jeonghan felt a strange emotion.

They had always defended themselves.

Since he could remember, the Demon Cult attacked and the Central Plains defended themselves. They had always resisted their attacks in a desperate manner.

Probably, at this moment, they were the only ones from the Central Plains who had entered the heart of the Demon Cult. That thought made his blood boil.

*”Not bad.”*

Changing from a defensive to an offensive position had a special meaning.

“Munin.”

“Yes, Great Hero Wei.”

“Will it work?”

“Of course.”

Jegal Munin had regained his composure a long time ago.

“It’s not just about delaying them. They have always attacked the Central Plains at their convenience. They attack as far as they can and retreat when they feel like it. A war like that has no pressure.”

“You’re right.”

“If their base is burned down and they know that we can invade Xinjiang at any moment… they will feel pressure. Pressure hinders. We can’t leave them without a place to return to, but we can make that place uncomfortable. This will not only buy time but will change the game.”

Jegal Munin’s words reassured Wei Jeonghan a little.

“What would the Master of Divine Abilities have said if he had known this? Would he have said he was proud?”

“… He would have said we were crazy.”

Wei Jeonghan looked at Jegal Munin with empty eyes.

“B-But you said it would work?”

“It will work, but it’s still crazy. Imagine we burn this down and the Demon Cult comes back.”

“Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

“And us?”

“…”

Jegal Munin chuckled.

“We might have to flee all the way to Central Asia to escape them. The wrath of the demons whose sacred home was burned would surpass any enmity. They would probably want to hang our bones and spit on us every time they passed.”

“… What encouraging words before we start. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Wei Jeonghan sighed and looked at Wei Yanho.

The decision was not his. It was Yanho’s.

“What will we do?”

“What else? We came all the way here, so let’s do it.”

“Can you handle the consequences?”

“My master gave me good advice.”

“Which one?”

Wei Yanho smiled.

“”Tomorrow’s problems will be solved by tomorrow’s me. So today’s me just has to act.””

“… Your master is not right in the head either.”

“Exactly.”

Wei Yanho jumped to his feet.

“There’s nothing to gain by delaying it any longer. Let’s start.”

“Damn it! Fine, let’s die. Everyone knows their mission, right?”

“… yes.”

The answers didn’t sound very convincing, but Wei Jeonghan decided to ignore it.

Did he expect the solemn spirit of a warrior willing to risk his life to strike at the heart of the enemy?

He didn’t want that.

“Don’t cause trouble, you damn bastards.”

“But we have to cause trouble! How can we not?”

“Is that true?”

Wei Jeonghan looked distressed and added:

“Then cause trouble well.”

“…”

It was a heartbreaking phrase.