Chapter 595-596

Chapter 595. Rescuing a Lazy Bum (5)

Normally, it’s necessary.

A sense of crisis, I mean.

Especially in situations like this, a sense of crisis is essential. Even if there’s a moment of calm, this place will soon become a battlefield where blood will flow and bones will break.

So, normally, the right thing to do would be to awaken all your senses and prepare for any eventuality. Even if not, it would be necessary to imagine the battle ahead and look for the best way to face it.

Normally, I mean. Normally.

“Haaham.”

Wei Yanho stretched his arms out Lazily.

“I’m getting sleepy.”

“How can you be sleepy in this situation, you crazy bastard?”

“What do you want me to do if I’m sleepy?”

“The problem is that you’re sleepy now!”

“That’s why I’m saying, what do you want me to do?”

“Aah! Aah! You’re driving me crazy!”

But there’s no sense of crisis here.

Deoksam looked around him with empty eyes. Well, in Wei Yanho’s case, he understands. He’s heard it to the point of exhaustion that that guy is always like that.

The Beggar Sect had already established guidelines regarding Wei Yanho:

Don’t try to understand him. Just accept him as he is.

Jangil strongly opposed the “as he is” part of these guidelines. At the time, I thought it was foolish to make a fuss over something so trivial, but now that I’ve met Wei Yanho, I understand why Jangil did that.

‘Anyway, Wei Yanho is like that…’

But why are the others like this?

We can overlook Jangil, who’s arguing with Wei Yanho in front of the enemy. That guy has always had a peculiar side. It has long been said that he’s an extreme beggar who will either revitalize the Beggar Sect or ruin it. So I understand him.

But what about Wei Jeonghan?

And Jegal Munin? And Musan? And Peng Dogeuk?

Why are those perfectly normal guys acting like this?

Musan was blinking, not paying attention to what the others were doing. Just looking at his eyes, you can’t tell if he’s a Shaolin monk or a bald Demon Cult member.

If he were given an axe, titles like “Blood Axe of the Thousand Mountains” or “Tyrant of Colossal Force” wouldn’t be out of place on him.

And Peng Dogeuk.

‘How the hell did he end up like this?’

Shaolin monks, who tend to avoid outside contact, aren’t easy to investigate. That’s why, even if a monk becomes famous, it’s hard to know what his personality is like.

Although monks are usually similar in character, anyway.

But Peng Dogeuk is the legitimate heir to the Peng Family of Hebei. Of course, they would have already investigated someone like that.

‘But why is he like this?’

The evaluations of Peng Dogeuk within the Beggar Sect weren’t very favorable:

“Solid skill, but weak character.”

“He has convictions, but lacks the will to carry them out.”

“Lacks what’s needed to be a leader. High probability of being displaced in internal power struggles.”

“Insufficient as a leader, but excellent as a martial artist.”

In short… he’s a skilled but weak-willed guy, like a useful fool.

And now that useful fool is licking the edge of a sharp sword with his tongue.

Weak??

‘He looks like an assassin fresh out of hell.’

And it’s not just his actions. There’s something in his gaze and aura that makes your skin crawl.

Deoksam felt a chill and trembled.

Furthermore, in this absurd situation, Wei Jeonghan is looking at the sky with his hands behind his back, and Jegal Munin was muttering while calculating something…

‘Isn’t there a single normal guy here?’

According to what I heard, it wasn’t like this.

This group, led by Wei Yanho, was supposedly made up of talented young people, and Wei Jeonghan, the “Sword of the Righteous Hero,” was said to be leading them.

Naturally, I thought they were the future pillars of the martial world.

Now it’s just Wei Jeonghan, but before, there was also Wei Sanho. Who could imagine that a group led by Wei Jeonghan of the “Sword of the Righteous Hero” and Wei Sanho of the “Demon-Expelling Sword” would be a disaster like this?

Deoksam, who thought Jangil was the weirdest of the group, despaired when he realized that, among them all, Jangil was the most normal.

But there’s a small consolation.

‘At least I’m better.’

Deoksam’s gaze turned to the front.

The swordsman from Baekgeom Fortress.

The swordsman from Baekgeom Fortress, who cut Deoksam’s back, was restless, unable to do anything.

Of course, the tip of his sword wasn’t trembling, and his posture was impeccable. Maintaining that composure in this situation is truly admirable.

But that’s all.

A perfect posture and unwavering will are useless with that expression.

It wasn’t an expression of fear, but of determination. But he looked like a cat cornered by wild dogs, bristling its fur and hissing.

‘Poor guy.’

A while ago, he was a demon looking for his life, but at this moment, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

If those in front of him weren’t Wei Yanho and his group, but others, like the Supreme Sovereign, the Sword Sage, or the Sword Saint, he could at least make fun of him.

Because he would only be paying for his crimes.

But this is…

“What do we do with him?”

“Do we kill him?”

“Didn’t you say before not to kill him?”

“I didn’t say not to kill him. I said not to get unnecessarily excited.”

“Ah, yeah? So, do we kill him?”

“Do whatever you want.”

It’s pathetic.

Yes, honestly, it’s pathetic.

Imagining how Deoksam would feel in that situation makes it clearer. This is the situation that any martial artist would want to avoid.

Everyone lives with the idea that they can die in front of a stronger opponent. That’s what it means to live in the martial world.

But at least you’d want your opponent to have… “class.”

‘Class…’

Expecting class from Wei Yanho, who looks like he’s about to collapse at any moment, is too much. To make someone wish for a dignified death at the hands of their enemy… they’re definitely not normal guys.

“Hey… are you okay?”

“……”.

Deoksam’s lips trembled at Jangil’s question.

‘You’re asking me that now?’

This guy isn’t normal either.

Before, he was acting like he was so furious that he couldn’t control himself, and now he’s asking with a mocking smile.

“Does it matter if I’m okay?”

“Well, not much.”

“……”.

He’s definitely not normal.

“Don’t you think they’re being too careless?”

“Why?”

“The main group must be approaching. Shouldn’t we run?”

“Run?”

Jangil twisted his face.

“Ugh, don’t talk to me about running. I’m sick of escaping. I don’t know how long we’ve been running.”

Jangil trembled with rage.

Just remembering how they were running away from the Demon Cult, the mere sound of the word “run” made him want to have a fit.

“No, but still…”

“And why are you telling me that?”

“Huh?”

“That guy has no intention of leaving.”

Jangil pointed at Wei Yanho with his chin.

“……”.

“No matter the logic or anything. If he doesn’t want to do something, he just doesn’t do it.”

It’s understandable.

People can be like that. There are many crazy people in the world.

But isn’t it weird that the others are acting like crazy people just because he is?

“Beggar, the Baekgeom Fortress guys are really scary.”

“I know. That’s why the Righteous Martial Alliance was destroyed.”

“Knowing it with your mind and…”

“Have you dealt with the Demon Cult?”

“……”.

“If not, you better not talk.”

There’s nothing to say.

‘Now I don’t know what to think anymore.’

They’ll know what they’re doing.

Anyway, my life was already lost. Living a little longer is a bonus.

“You go quickly.”

“I can’t.”

Deoksam bent down and pressed the wound on Jonggu’s shoulder.

“This guy… is in really bad shape. If we move abruptly, the wound will open. I can only stop the bleeding here.”

“Then at least go to a corner. It looks like they’re already arriving.”

“…Yeah.”

Deoksam carried Jonggu and retreated to a corner.

Whisper.

The sound of bushes moving reached his ears.

‘They’re already here!’

Deoksam’s face tensed. Finally, the vanguard of Baekgeom Fortress had arrived.

Whoosh!

The bushes in front parted violently, revealing the leader. Deoksam’s expression distorted when he saw him.

Blood.

His white clothes were completely soaked in blood. And that blood was all theirs.

He gritted his teeth.

His body trembled.

That blood is death. The blood of his comrades and friends. Deoksam’s hand, which was pressing on Jonggu’s shoulder, tightened.

“Whoa.”

The leader raised a hand, and the Baekgeom Fortress warriors who were advancing aggressively stopped in unison.

The leader wiped the blood dripping from his hair and looked directly at Wei Yanho.

“Wei Yanho?”

“The same.”

“Wei Yanho, so you really are Wei Yanho. Wei Yanho…”

Wei Yanho felt his fame again. People he had never seen recognized him instantly.

“The fools from the Demon Cult couldn’t even capture a brat. But it’s not bad. Your head will be a great merit.”

Rub, rub.

Wei Yanho picked his ear and blew the earwax away.

“Well, I appreciate you considering my head so valuable, but could you stop talking like you can take it so easily? I feel a little uncomfortable.”

“Hahahahaha!”

The leader drew his sword.

Schiiing.

The sound of the sword grazing the scabbard was chilling.

“Whether I can take it or not, we’ll know by trying. I commend your courage for facing Baekgeom Fortress. But teaching you that recklessness brings consequences is also my duty as an adult.”

“That sir has a very smooth tongue.”

“Not just the tongue, brat. Remember my name: Cheon Woojong. I’m the one who will take your head.”

Whoosh!

Without further words, Cheon Woojong charged at Wei Yanho. His sword, raised in a vertical cut, shone with a blue aura.

“Je.”

Wei Yanho smirked and retracted his fist.

And then, a punch.

BOOOOOM!

With a sound like a large bell, the force of Wei Yanho’s fist swept Cheon Woojong away in an instant.

“GAAAAAAAH!”

Cheon Woojong, dragged by the force, flew like a kite in a storm, spinning out of control before disappearing into the distance.

“……”.

“……”.

An awkward silence filled the place.

Crick, crack.

Wei Yanho stretched his neck and advanced with heavy steps.

“Lately, I’ve been thinking…”

“……”.

“…that people only come to their senses after getting beaten up. Now I understand why my master beat me so much.”

“So… well, how to put it…”

The corner of Wei Yanho’s lips curved upward.

His smile was terrifying.

“I think I know what my master would do if he were here. So I must punish you in his place.”

Wei Yanho’s face became colder and colder.

“I will make you pay for corrupting the teachings of the Infinity Sword.”

The playful atmosphere had completely disappeared.

 

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## Chapter 596. The Lazy Man, Inherit (1)

“The teachings of the Infinity Sword…”

Saha, the Historian, couldn’t help but nod.

In the end, Baekgeom Fortress and Wei Yanho were like older brothers who came from the same root. They all had their origins in the ancient Great Family of the Infinity Sword. In addition, they shared the fact of pursuing the teachings of the Sword Emperor Baek Muhan a bit more than those of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword.

“If we talk about hierarchy, wouldn’t the Radiant Martial Sovereign be something like the great-uncle of Baekgeom Fortress?”

“Exactly.”

Gwanggu Singae chuckled.

“From your current perspective, that would be obvious, but back then it was complicated to bring something like that up. Imagine hundreds of people bowing their heads to that bastard Wei Yanho.”

“…Mmm, it’s definitely peculiar.”

“If someone had pointed it out, there would be those who would worry about that detail, but in reality that didn’t happen at that time.”

“Why?”

“Because those who didn’t know couldn’t say it, and those who knew kept their mouths shut because they hated seeing Wei Yanho being treated with respect.”

“…”

Saha looked at Gwanggu Singae in disbelief.

“So, what about the Radiant Martial Sovereign?”

“That guy has no concept of hierarchy.”

“Huh?”

Gwanggu Singae shrugged.

“He just didn’t care much about that. He probably never thought about it until the end. Even if he had known… maybe he wouldn’t have liked it either. In reality, having some old white-haired men call him ‘great uncle’ and show him respect isn’t necessarily a good thing for a young man.”

“Thinking about it the other way around, it sounds terrifying.”

“That could be why. Although I doubt he thought about it that much. Anyway…”

Gwanggu Singae scratched his head hard.

“Well, how far had we gotten? Ah, yes, in the end they came from the same root. The same root of the Infinity Sword and the Sword Emperor. That’s why Wei Yanho was even more enraged.”

“Mmm, but that’s a bit strange, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“In reality, the Sword Emperor is famous for his strength, not for having an exceptional sense of justice or righteousness.”

“Correct.”

To be exact, he is someone from whom you can hardly find that kind of qualities.

Saha had only been able to see Baek Muhan through historical records, and Gwanggu Singae could only infer his character based on the mentions that Wei Yanho made of him.

“According to Wei Yanho’s words, that Sword Emperor wasn’t a common guy either, so…”

“Sure.”

Saha nodded repeatedly.

“But why would the Radiant Martial Sovereign be enraged if the teachings of the Sword Emperor deviated?”

“Ah, that…”

Gwanggu Singae scratched his head hard.

“Actually, Wei Yanho wasn’t enraged because Baekgeom Fortress opposed the martial society.”

“Huh?”

“That wasn’t something to be enraged about. From the beginning, Baek Muhan himself didn’t have good relationships with the members of the martial society.”

More than a bad relationship, it seemed that he was the one who tormented them unilaterally…

“That wasn’t the reason why Wei Yanho was enraged. Well, in the end, what do the reasons matter? The important thing is that Wei Yanho was enraged.”

“You’re right.”

“That guy was… how to say it, he had a somewhat bipolar side… normally he was a naive fool, but when he got angry, he became incredibly terrifying.”

“It seems he did have that side.”

“With a guy like that enraged and attacking, there was no solution.”

Gwanggu Singae shrugged.

“From the perspective of Baekgeom Fortress, it must have been disconcerting as well. It wasn’t a situation in which they could say they had the upper hand. The battle was already over. They had already cut the rice, they just had to pick up the fallen ears…”

Saha swallowed.

“And that’s where Wei Yanho’s counterattack began.”

* * *

It was understandable that they were disconcerted.

Because the Righteous Martial Alliance had no ability to counterattack. They had lost their leader.

Huh?

No, that wasn’t it.

That’s not it.

Losing the leader was, of course, a great blow. But the biggest blow wasn’t having lost the leader, but having lost a supreme master like the Supreme Sovereign.

If there had been at least one master of the level of the Supreme Sovereign on that battlefield, the result might have been different.

What?

Namgung?

Ah, no.

You see the world through historical records, so you might think like that. But reality is a little different from what is known. It was said that the Sword King was considered the best sword in the martial society, but his skill couldn’t be compared to that of the Sword Saint or Sword Sage.

However, since that guy was also the leader of the Namgung Family, his skill was evaluated a little higher.

Anyway, if the Sword Sage had been there, the situation would have been different.

Huh?

Why didn’t he come?

I don’t know.

Don’t look at me like that. I don’t know everything that happened back then either.

The Sword Sage must have had his own matters to attend to.

Huh?

Was there an event more important than that war?

That’s why I’m telling you that I don’t know. I don’t know everything, how could I know what happened and when?

Anyway, he must have had something important to do.

That’s not the important thing, the point is…

Where was I?

If you interrupt, I can’t continue the story, idiot!

Ah, yes, then… on the battlefield, a single master can be worth ten thousand men.

Huh? Does that make sense?

*Chuckles.*

You’ve never seen a battlefield where masters of the martial society face each other, have you? So it’s normal that you find it hard to believe. Because you’re thinking of a normal battlefield.

But listen.

As I said before when I talked about the leader Supreme Sovereign, a true master doesn’t just dominate the battlefield.

He turns it completely over.

* * *

Boooom!

It explodes.

The sphere of light that sprouts from the tip of the sword flies at a speed literally like light.

It cannot be dodged or blocked.

Something white forms and, in the blink of an eye, it is right in front of you.

How are you supposed to face this?

Kwaaaaaa!

The explosion of light sweeps the surroundings with a storm of energy. It cannot be pushed or deflected.

It catches, pulls, twists, and tears.

“Grrrr.”

Where the light disappears, those with foam in their mouths stagger and fall.

*Plop, plop.*

It was a scene that seemed unreal.

*Whoosh.*

Wei Yanho’s sword cuts through the air and the empty space. At the tip of the sword that cuts through the void, a white light accumulates and then jumps forward.

Boom!

With continuous explosions, the people, trees, and earth caught in it are overturned and destroyed.

The terrain itself was changing.

“W-what…?”

What the hell is that monster?

The jaw trembles.

The hand holding the sword moves aimlessly.

Gi Cheol couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

It was Baekgeom Fortress.

They were Baekgeom Fortress.

The name of Baekgeom Fortress is not something that anyone can carry. Only those who know the Infinity Sword and walk its path can become disciples of Baekgeom Fortress.

Many wish to join Baekgeom Fortress.

Even after passing the difficult exam, they must endure brutal training that tears the flesh and scrapes the bones to be recognized as disciples of Baekgeom Fortress.

That is not all.

Only those disciples recognized for their talent can begin to learn the Infinity Sword.

Gi Cheol was one of them.

He passed the entrance exam of Baekgeom Fortress and withstood training so terrible that the entrance exam seemed like a simple exercise. Even after being recognized as a disciple, he did not stop training and striving, earning the recognition of Baekgeom Fortress.

Only then could he begin to learn the Infinity Sword.

The first sword in the world, no, the first sword of all time.

How happy he was to be able to learn the Infinity Sword. How much his tongue itched when he learned that Baekgeom Fortress was actually the Great Family of the Infinity Sword.

Gi Cheol strove ceaselessly.

Learning the Infinity Sword does not make you strong. Only when you make the Infinity Sword your own can you become strong.

Not even the greatest genius in the world can completely master the Infinity Sword. But you can understand it to the fullest and find among its countless techniques those that suit you.

How painful that time was.

Because he overcame that time, Gi Cheol was able to have confidence in himself.

And he was able to believe in the words of the Fortress Lord.

“Once you have mastered the Infinity Sword, no one in the world will be able to stop you.”

The truth of those words had already been demonstrated on the battlefield a few days before.

But…

But what the hell is going on now?

“Is that a sword?”

A sword is a metal blade.

It is made for wielding, cutting, and stabbing. At higher levels, you can release energy from the sword to stab and cut, or unleash a sword wave, but basically a sword is a weapon that is used for cutting directly.

So, what is that?

Uuuuung!

A mass of intermittent light falls on the world.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

It’s as if an explosive had been detonated. No, if it were at least an explosive that launched something, it wouldn’t feel so out of place. The sword light that that brat launched was dragging and sweeping everything away.

Can you call that a sword?

Wei Yanho’s sword was now destroying the common sense that Gi Cheol had about swords. It seemed that he was launching tension with the sword. And before that never-before-seen martial technique, the swordsmen of Baekgeom Fortress were falling helplessly.

“How is it possible…?”

The vanguard of Baekgeom Fortress.

The vanguard of the Infinity Sword.

How much meaning that word has. And now that vanguard of Baekgeom Fortress was blocked by a single person. No, they were being completely defeated.

“T… this!”

Gi Cheol grabbed his sword.

“Aaaaaah!”

Then, with a heartbreaking scream, he ran towards Wei Yanho.

“It can’t be!”

This is too unfair.

He overcame hellish training. He gave it his best. If he had lost against an older veteran, he might have accepted it. Because the time they had trained was different.

But Wei Yanho, to the naked eye, looks like he hasn’t lived even half as long as he has.

And he is losing like this, hopelessly?

Then, what was all the time that Gi Cheol dedicated to?

“Wei Yanhooooo!”

At the moment he ran screaming, Gi Cheol saw him.

Wei Yanho’s eyes, which turned towards him.

Excitement, anger, contempt…

No emotion was felt. Just seeing Wei Yanho’s cold and indifferent eyes, Gi Cheol finally understood. Why he couldn’t beat this man.

*Slash.*

While listening to the chilling sound coming from his neck, Gi Cheol slowly fell sideways.

As he fell, Wei Yanho’s emotionless voice reached his ears.

“A swordsman dies the moment he gets emotional. Didn’t Baekgeom Fortress teach you that?”

It was something he had heard a thousand times since he entered Baekgeom Fortress. If he couldn’t follow that single teaching, how could he beat someone? Gi Cheol, as he fell, could only laugh.

Irony.

The only thing left was irony.

*Plop.*

Gi Cheol’s body, fallen on the ground, slowly cooled.

No one would know if Wei Yanho’s last teaching had reached him.

Slash!

Wei Yanho, who had shaken his sword to cast off the blood, turned his gaze to one side.

“If you’re done watching, come out. I’ll cut your neck too.”

At the cold voice, even the forest held its breath.