Chapter 550

Chapter 550: The Lazy Arrives (5)

“Already?”

It was earlier than expected. He had recently received reports that they hadn’t even entered Anhui yet, and now they were saying that in that brief span they had already arrived in Hefei.

“What’s going on?”

“We are assessing the situation. The only thing confirmed is that the main forces of the enemy have entered Hefei.”

“Hmm.”

Supreme Sovereign deeply felt the absence of the Master of Divine Abilities. In moments like this, if the Master of Divine Abilities were by his side, he wouldn’t need to think so much. But now the Master of Divine Abilities couldn’t join the campaign. To handle the expanded front and rapid changes, it was better for the Master of Divine Abilities not to be at the front.

He understood that. But…

“It’s definitely a problem not having someone reliable to delegate to.”

He thought he should discuss this issue later, as he opened his mouth.

“Their speed?”

“Normal.”

“Normal…”

So it wasn’t a lightning attack. They had increased their speed drastically as they approached Hefei, but reduced it upon arrival.

That decreased the likelihood of a surprise attack. But he couldn’t let his guard down.

“Report!”

Before he finished speaking, another report arrived.

“The Baekgeom Fortress that entered Hefei has not penetrated the city, but has established a camp on the outskirts.”

“A camp?”

“So it seems.”

They arrive quickly and suddenly set up camp…

“Are they playing with us?”

Supreme Sovereign didn’t have an eye for military tactics, but he had enough experience to understand the enemy’s intentions. If they came all the way here to camp, it was to not give the Righteous Martial Alliance any rest.

If the camp was close, both sides would be under pressure. But the Baekgeom Fortress was a single force, while here there were multiple factions mixed together. The pressure wasn’t equal.

“Do they intend to spend the night like this?”

Supreme Sovereign sank into his thoughts.

“Don’t they know?”

What if they knew their entire situation?

The right thing to do would be to attack immediately. Letting Shaolin join without resistance would be stupid. The troops must be attacked before they join. That’s the most basic thing in military strategy.

Thinking about it the other way around, maybe they didn’t know that Shaolin hadn’t joined them yet…

“Impossible.”

They couldn’t ignore it.

Baekgeom Fortress had been planning to dominate the Central Plains for a long time. They wouldn’t underestimate the importance of intelligence. Establishing a spy network before the war is the most basic thing. Their movements had to be obvious to them.

And they still don’t attack?

Supreme Sovereign clenched his knees.

“What are you planning, Great Family of the Infinity Sword?”

If the enemy were the Demon Cult, there would be no doubt. He knew very well what they wanted and what they were planning. But being Baekgeom Fortress, the confusion grew.

“Lord Leader?”

“Let’s wait.”

“Wait?”

Supreme Sovereign nodded.

“There’s no need to move first. Let’s wait patiently for Shaolin.”

“Understood.”

When the messenger left, Song Hyun and Namgung Jowi broke the silence.

“They’ve already arrived…”

“I’m sorry. I should have foreseen it.”

“Don’t say that, Leader of Namgung. Neither the Beggar Sect’s spies nor those of the Righteous Martial Alliance gave timely warning. That only shows how quickly they moved. Even if this is Anhui and Hefei, even Namgung has its limits.”

“I have no excuse.”

Namgung Jowi slightly bowed his head.

“Why do you think they aren’t acting?”

“They’re waiting.”

“Waiting? For what?”

“I don’t know. But I can speculate. They weren’t expecting this situation either. They surely believed that the Demon Cult would attack them from both flanks. They didn’t calculate fighting alone against us. So it’s logical for them to avoid a decisive battle and wait for the Cult.”

“Then why did they come to Hefei…?”

“I don’t know that. The general staff will have their theories.”

Supreme Sovereign spoke firmly.

“Nothing is decided yet. Please reassure the young ones so they don’t panic.”

“Yes.”

“I trust you.”

“Don’t worry, Lord Leader.”

When the two left the tent, Supreme Sovereign slowly stood up.

“Baekgeom Fortress.”

As he exited, he looked into the distance. Beyond the darkness would be the Fortress’s main camp. At a distance that even his eyes couldn’t see, but that they could cross at any moment if they decided to.

“They will bear the consequences of their choice.”

He didn’t believe that Baekgeom Fortress’s anger was unjustified. But all anger must be based on legitimate power. Anger without power is empty.

Supreme Sovereign would demonstrate to them that they still lacked power.

They will pay for their impatience in trying to dominate the martial world without preparing. Even if they represented justice and he the villain.

If he could save a single drop of blood, Supreme Sovereign would bear the infamy and burn in hell without hesitation.

* * *

“Great Family of the Infinity Sword.”

“Exactly, the Great Family of the Infinity Sword.”

Gwanggu Singae sighed.

“That name is too famous. Not only among swordsmen, but any martial artist has heard it.”

“Of course.”

Saha, the Historian, nodded vehemently.

The name of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword was symbolic.

For swordsmen, they were idols. And for others as well.

It was a place that reached a level that no other sect dared to dream of.

“The Infinity Sword of the family was grandiose. And the fact that they produced the Sword Emperor was also astounding. There are many sects in the world that compete to be the best, but only the Great Family of the Infinity Sword could proclaim themselves as number one without hesitation.”

“That’s right.”

Although Shaolin proclaims itself the polar star of the martial world, it doesn’t compare to the height of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword. No sect surpasses Shaolin, but Shaolin can’t ignore the others either.

When the Great Family of the Infinity Sword dominated the martial world with their Sword Emperor, no one dared to raise their voice in front of them. A force that proclaimed itself the best in history, with a tyrant so powerful that he turned other great forces into his servants. Who would dare to challenge them?

If Shaolin tried to imitate the Great Family of the Infinity Sword at its peak, its foundations would be destroyed before the year ended.

“Thanks to the Great Family of the Infinity Sword, the Central Plains did not cede its status as the first force in the world to the Demon Cult. Back then, it was just a legendary family, but it fulfilled its role.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That’s why people didn’t think about it.”

“Huh?”

“That the Great Family of the Infinity Sword wasn’t a legend.”

Saha stared intently at Gwanggu Singae. His words were difficult to interpret.

“The Great Family of the Infinity Sword wasn’t a legend. It really existed. But it was treated as a simple myth. Do you know why?”

“Why?”

Saha pondered before answering.

“Because there was no tangible evidence?”

“Exactly.”

Gwanggu Singae nodded, satisfied.

“If Shaolin disappeared from Mount Song now… it would become a legend. The same with Wudang. They aren’t legends not because of a lack of achievements, but because they still breathe among us. But the Infinity Sword doesn’t.”

Glup. Glup.

Gwanggu Singae swallowed the rest of his liquor and looked at the empty bottle with nostalgia. Saga threw him another bottle that he had behind him.

The old man laughed as he caught it.

“At least you learned to be considerate.”

“Don’t interrupt the story, Singae.”

“Alright, let’s continue. The Infinity Sword became a legend because it ceased to exist, and a myth for the same reason. But, didn’t it ever seem strange to you?”

“…”

Gwanggu Singae opened the bottle and continued.

“As a legend, it’s normal to say ‘that family mysteriously disappeared one day.’ Legends are like that. But if it stops being a legend, it becomes weird. Why did the Great Family of the Infinity Sword disappear so mysteriously? Why at its peak?”

“That…”

“Obvious. If there are no human accounts, it’s because there’s something to hide.”

Gwanggu Singae spoke bitterly.

“An ugly story?”

“Very ugly.”

“Don’t you want to tell it?”

“Perhaps.”

“Then you won’t?”

“No. I must.”

Gwanggu Singae was firm.

“You seem to be confused. I have no intention of hiding the ugliness of the martial world. Why would I?”

“I thought so. You just seemed to hesitate…”

“It’s not hesitation.”

Saha straightened up.

Gwanggu Singae’s aura changed slightly.

“The ugliness wasn’t the problem. The martial world is full of dirty stories. The problem was that their story hadn’t ended.”

“What do you mean?”

“A story that should have ended as a legend still continues.”

“Are you referring to Baekgeom Fortress?”

“A little different.”

Gwanggu Singae drank from the bottle.

A cold wind entered the silent cabin.

“Everything was entangled. But no one knew how entangled it was. Not even Baekgeom Fortress knew.”

“And…”

Gwanggu Singae smiled slightly.

“Even the one who created this game didn’t know what situation he was in.”

“The one who created the game? Are you referring to the Radiant Martial Sovereign?”

“No. Literally. The one who started this whole war.”

“…”

“Hard to understand, isn’t it?”

Gwanggu Singae put down the bottle and straightened up.

“Well, this story also comes to an end. Listen carefully. Deciding whether to pass it on to posterity or not is your role.”

Gwanggu Singae spoke gravely.

“Where to begin? Ah, yes. First, the resentment of the Infinity Sword. The Supreme Sovereign believes that Baekgeom Fortress is looking for something more, but that’s not the case. The Fortress was preparing a stage.”

“A stage?”

“A stage for their voice to reach every corner of the world. Hefei was the perfect place.”

Gwanggu Singae sighed.

“And also the perfect place to start a war.”

The story that would end everything was about to begin.