Chapter 536

Chapter 536 – The Lazy Flees (1)

“You say the Sacred Flame?”

“That’s right, the Sacred Flame.”

It was a term that even Saha, the Historian, had heard before.

The Demon Cult, once called the Sect of Fire Worship, venerated those flames.

“But it’s supposed to be just an abstract concept, right?”

“Now, yes. But back then, it apparently existed physically.”

“…I didn’t imagine it had a tangible form.”

He felt bewildered.

It was as if someone told him that in a deep valley, there was a dragon and a phoenix grooming each other.

However, seeing the face of the one saying it, he couldn’t simply dismiss it as a lie.

“The Sacred Flame, the Sacred Flame…”

Saha rubbed his face several times. That the witness was Gwanggu Shingae gave some credibility; if someone else had said it, Saha would have spat and left.

“So that…”

“Don’t misunderstand.”

“Huh?”

Gwanggu Shingae chuckled and continued.

“It’s true that the Sacred Flame existed, but whether it was the Sacred Flame you imagine is another matter. What I saw were just white flames burning.”

“You have a point.”

Saha shook his head dubitatively.

White flames like snow.

They were mysterious, but the color alone didn’t mean they harbored a divine spirit. With special methods, the color of the flames could be modified at will.

“Whether it was the true Sacred Flame or not, it’s a fact that the demoniacs venerated it.”

“That’s why they hid it so jealously.”

“Mmm.”

Gwanggu Shingae laughed with a mocking chuckle.

“So… that was the reason they clung to that hostile land of Xinjiang?”

“I don’t know for sure. Maybe that Sacred Flame could only sprout there. That would be a valid reason.”

“I understand.”

Saha shook his head.

The important thing wasn’t whether the Sacred Flame existed. There was no reason to obsess over facts impossible to verify.

“And the Demon Cult? What happened to them?”

“They were on the move.”

Gwanggu Shingae let out a sigh.

“I thought that slowing them down would be enough, but no one imagined they would return with such desperation. Although… he suspected it.”

“He?”

“Wei Yanho, of course.”

“The Sovereign predicted everything?”

“Prediction isn’t the right word. Wei Yanho is exceptionally intelligent, but this goes beyond intellect. Without formal tactical training, how could he foresee everything?”

“I agree.”

“I think he just had a hunch.”

“Hmm…”

“In a way, it was an illusion.”

“Illusion?”

Gwanggu Shingae scratched his chin.

“The moment we met the Great Hero Yeom Mong, we assumed that the Demon Cult was already aware of all our movements.”

“That seems logical.”

“But it wasn’t like that.”

“What?”

“The Demon Cult was also preparing for a major mobilization. Worry about some underlings in that situation?”

“…”

Listening to him, he was right. If they had really paid attention to them, they would have eliminated them before mobilizing.

“They let them escape on purpose?”

“Exactly.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?”

Saha found the answer instantly. It was obvious.

“Dual strategy.”

“That’s right. A stealth attack wouldn’t be bad, but with forces of that level, sooner or later it would be known. There’s no way to evade all eyes. Besides…”

Gwanggu Shingae scratched his head in annoyance.

“The periodic reports would be interrupted.”

“Ah…”

“With just that, they could deduce it. It was impossible to hide it. Better that the Righteous Martial Alliance knew and felt the pressure. They had Baekgeom Fortress.”

“Sure.”

Strategically, it was the right thing to do.

After resolving some doubts, Saha asked:

“So, wasn’t it a success? They slowed down the overwhelming advance of the Demon Cult towards the Central Plains and set fire to their base.”

“That’s right.”

“And they managed to escape unscathed.”

“…Unscathed?”

Gwanggu Shingae looked at Saha and let out a mocking chuckle.

“Did you say unscathed?”

“…Wasn’t it like that?”

“They saved their lives.”

Gwanggu Shingae shuddered as if he disliked the subject.

“Only their lives.”

* * *

“The Demon Cult?”

The face of the Master of Divine Abilities was tense like never before. His philosophy was to always maintain composure, but not even he could do it in this situation.

He was also human. He couldn’t remain impassive while the Demon Cult advanced and Baekgeom Fortress pointed their swords towards the Righteous Martial Alliance.

‘Damn it.’

A gesture of irritation appeared on his face, usually serene.

He had been preparing for twenty years for the resurgence of the Demon Cult. The war wasn’t over. A conflict without a clear victor always resurges.

Although the martial world celebrated the victory, he knew better than anyone that it wasn’t definitive. The Cult only retreated due to the death of its leader.

After invading the Central Plains, the Cult would reinforce its weaknesses and return stronger. They were surely doing the same thing he was.

If only the Cult invaded, he was sure of at least a 70% victory. They were fearsome, but their bellicosity was their weakness. Without a leader to control them…

A headless beast, no matter how strong, ends up hunted. He was confident in victory. It wasn’t arrogance, but cold calculation.

In the past invasion, he hadn’t yet reached his fullness, and the momentum of the Cult took him by surprise. This time it would be different.

‘Or so I thought…’

The Cult’s play hit him in the solar plexus. It not only cut his skin but stirred his insides.

It was devastating.

Although he hid his emotions, he didn’t find a solution to this crisis. Baekgeom Fortress, like a dagger in the heart, rendered his preparations useless.

But he was the Master of Divine Abilities.

He had countermeasures for the Fortress, although imperfect. And imperfect measures have obvious consequences.

‘What to do?’

While his mind was boiling, the answer came.

“They’ve turned around.”

“Yes, advancing relentlessly… What?”

“No, commander. They’ve turned and are returning to their base.”

“By this time, they should have already crossed Qinghai… Eh?”

The Master of Divine Abilities sharply turned his head.

“What?”

The informant responded uncomfortably:

“As I was saying, they’ve reversed their course towards their base. At a higher speed than their advance.”

“Who reported it?”

“Yeom Mong.”

“Yeom Mong?”

Upon hearing that name, he discarded the idea of beheading the messenger for drunkenness. Everyone could be wrong, except Yeom Mong.

“Is Yeom Mong sure?”

“Yes. And the guards of Qinghai report that the Cult hasn’t arrived yet. According to speed and time, they should be crossing Qinghai now. The report seems correct.”

“What the hell…?”

The Master of Divine Abilities couldn’t process it.

Why would they retreat like that? It wasn’t as if they had forgotten something. No problem justified an army like that turning around.

“…They don’t want to fight?”

“Would that be possible?”

He knew how absurd it sounded. But there was no other explanation. It was incomprehensible.

“Reason?”

He did the most sensible thing: seek information to understand.

“According to the Great Hero Yeom Mong…”

“Yes?”

The informant swallowed saliva and continued:

“He says that Wei Yanho and Wei Jeonghan from the Wei family of Guangdong took a group to Xinjiang. Seems to be related…”

“Xinjiang?”

His eyes widened.

“Yes. They said they would loot Xinjiang, now desolate.”

“Ah…”

He grabbed his head.

“Of course, those lunatics…”

He understood his mistake: letting himself be blinded by tactical manuals.

Attacking the enemy base is basic, but no one considered it due to the distance and resources needed. But they were wrong in the numbers.

‘We are martial artists.’

A master in his prime is worth more than an army. A small group could raze their base. Even more so if the Cult mobilized every last resource to invade.

But no one thought about it.

In centuries of conflicts, no one had attacked the Cult’s base during an invasion. No one.

‘Wei Yanho…’

Only a madman would do that. No one else would dare such madness.

“Hehe…”

He laughed with discouragement.

It was madness, but it bought them time. At least three days. They had to make the most of them.

Perhaps…

‘They traded their lives for this time.’

Where would they flee to in that desert? The Weis and their group were valuable forces. Three days in exchange for them.

He didn’t know if it was a gain or a loss. And it didn’t matter, as it was already underway. His duty was simple:

“Bring me updates on Baekgeom Fortress.”

He set aside the reports on the Cult. With the decision made, he had to concentrate.

“Right now!”

“Yes!”

He watched the messengers leave and sighed.

‘Those madmen, those madmen…’

Although they gave them an invaluable respite, he couldn’t praise them.

He felt that the time was beginning to see people as numbers, and he closed his eyes.

He imagined the evil flames that seemed to suck the souls of those who looked at them.