Chapter 609

## Chapter 609. Encounter with the Lazy (4)

“That’s all.”

“…I understand.”

Baek Hoemyung nodded weakly.

‘It’s disastrous.’

The casualties weren’t as numerous as he had thought. As terrifying as Wei Yanho was, he couldn’t chase down and defeat so many people.

Thinking about it, it was an obvious result.

Even the current losses were much greater at the beginning when they charged at Wei Yanho than when they were being chased.

Considering all of that, it could be said that the damage was less. Just looking at the numbers.

But Baek Hoemyung couldn’t consider this defeat a simple accident.

This was a crushing defeat.

And one of the biggest.

There were reasons for choosing retreat. If they had waited for the main reinforcements and fought a war of attrition before committing all their forces, even Wei Yanho would have had no choice but to retreat.

If luck was on their side, they might have even turned that place into Wei Yanho’s grave.

But the cost they would have had to pay was too high. So they couldn’t choose that method. At that time, choosing to retreat wasn’t wrong.

But he didn’t anticipate what would follow.

As Wei Yanho chased them, Baek Hoemyung suffered a fatal wound.

The justification for a strategic retreat lost its meaning in the face of real losses. It didn’t matter how much they had suffered or how fatal those losses had been.

What mattered was that those who retreated felt like they were fleeing, chased by a single man: Wei Yanho.

Morale was at rock bottom.

Baek Hoemyung discreetly looked at the swordsmen who were in formation.

Everyone was dejected.

It’s a feeling you should never perceive in those preparing for war. Baek Hoemyung felt that the situation was getting worse.

Among the dull eyes, glimmers of discontent flashed.

Baek Hoemyung gritted his teeth.

It was natural.

Retreating before a single man with all that power?

If someone else had done something like that, Baek Hoemyung would have looked at him like an insect too. The fact that there was only this much reaction showed how much trust Baek Hoemyung had gained among them and how strong their loyalty was.

‘What should I do?’

Originally, they planned to reorganize here and wait for the Demon Cult to advance.

When the Demon Cult shook the Righteous Martial Alliance first, it would be enough to pick the fruits. And Baekgeom Fortress had the right to do so.

While those fools from the Demon Cult were busy with Wei Yanho, Baekgeom Fortress alone faced the Righteous Martial Alliance and defeated them. So they had every right to indulge themselves. If it weren’t for this situation.

It gets worse.

The more time passed, the more negative thoughts would spread. Right after an incredible victory, they suffered a crushing defeat.

It would have been better not to achieve that great victory. At least they would have been able to strengthen their resolve. But when a spirit at its peak suddenly falls to the lowest point, morale doesn’t recover easily.

“Young Master.”

“Yes…”

“Please, give us orders.”

Baek Hoemyung’s lips trembled.

It was a painful choice, but it was up to him. A leader must make decisions. Even if that decision is wrong and harms the group, it’s much better than hesitating and not deciding.

“We will wait.”

“…Young Master?”

It wasn’t a confirmation, but a question.

Those who heard him knew how costly this decision would be.

“Follow the order.”

“Bu-but Young Master, this isn’t a suitable place to wait. And… everyone is demoralized. It’s not something that will recover with time.”

“I know.”

He knew it very well.

Baek Hoemyung gritted his teeth tightly.

‘What decision would the Clan Leader have made in this case?’

It wasn’t worth thinking about.

The Clan Leader would have resolved everything very simply: by seeking out Wei Yanho and cutting off his head.

Baek Hoemyung felt a deep despair.

He had learned everything from the Clan Leader. He believed that living by acting and thinking like him was the right thing to do. But at this moment, Baek Hoemyung understood it clearly.

He couldn’t be like the Clan Leader.

Although they shared blood, the Clan Leader was the Clan Leader, and he was him. He wasn’t born with the same genius as the Clan Leader.

Others praised him as a prodigy, but his talent didn’t even reach the Clan Leader’s feet. He couldn’t be like him.

So he couldn’t follow in his footsteps.

The Clan Leader would never have had to think about this. Why would he have considered how to act against an opponent he couldn’t face with his own strength?

That would never have happened.

“…We will wait, here…”

“That’s a bad move, Young Master.”

Baek Hoemyung turned his head.

“U-uncle!”

Heavenly Flowing Sword.

Baek Gongah, Heavenly Flowing Sword, had suddenly appeared and was walking towards him.

Seeing Heavenly Flowing Sword slowly approaching with his hands behind his back, Baek Hoemyung felt shame and relief at the same time.

“Ah…”

Just when he was about to relax.

“Enough!”

Heavenly Flowing Sword roared.

Hearing that shout filled with internal energy, Baek Hoemyung’s whole body tensed up. Those who were attentive also stood firm.

“Don’t lower your guard!”

Heavenly Flowing Sword’s voice resonated powerfully.

“Useless wretches! In the life of a swordsman, victories and defeats always come. How dare you wield a sword if you loosen your grip after a single defeat?”

Those who heard the reprimand gritted their teeth.

They were words that wounded their pride.

“Are you afraid? Afraid of losing? Afraid of dying? Or is it fear of not achieving your goals?”

They tried to find an answer.

Somewhere between honesty and justification.

But Heavenly Flowing Sword didn’t give them time to answer.

“What does it matter what the answer is! The mere fact of feeling fear is already shameful!”

Heavenly Flowing Sword raised a hand and pointed to the sky.

“Look!”

Gazes turned to the sky.

“Those who died unjustly at the hands of those evil beings are watching us from above! What will they think when they see you, hanging your heads like beaten dogs just for facing a powerful enemy?”

“……”

“The Infinity Sword encompasses all the swords in the world. But there’s one that doesn’t deserve to be in it: the sword of a coward!”

Heavenly Flowing Sword changed the atmosphere in an instant.

The spirit, which had fallen into the abyss, began to rise.

“What is it that you desire!”

Everyone wanted to talk about their great cause. But the Heavenly Flowing Sword said something different.

“Wei Yanho’s head, isn’t it?”

“……”

“A great cause? A purpose? That’s fine. But how can you talk about great causes without regaining your wounded pride?”

Heavenly Flowing Sword turned his head and looked everyone in the eye.

“I’m going to cut off Wei Yanho’s head.”

It was boiling.

Silently.

Emotions didn’t explode. But they were boiling more strongly than ever.

“We can’t let that guy keep tarnishing the name of the Infinity Sword. Did you lose? Did you flee? I lost too! I fled too!”

Heavenly Flowing Sword shouted as if spitting blood.

“Losing isn’t shameful. What’s shameful is continuing to struggle eternally in defeat. If you lose, win next time! If you suffer a crushing defeat, pay with a great victory. That’s our way!”

At that moment, a cry that seemed to shake the world erupted.

They pounded the ground, raised their heads, and shouted like madmen. Some writhed in place, others trembled while holding their swords.

Heavenly Flowing Sword waited silently for them to calm down. Only when everyone had vented what had accumulated and regained their composure did he speak.

“Young Master.”

“Yes, uncle.”

“Please, give us orders.”

“……”

Baek Hoemyung’s eyes trembled.

He thought that now that Heavenly Flowing Sword was here, he would take command. Given the current atmosphere, it was obvious that he would lead everyone.

Baek Hoemyung had failed to guide them, and Heavenly Flowing Sword had captivated them with a few words. So it was clear who was superior.

“While the Clan Leader isn’t here…”

Heavenly Flowing Sword was firm.

“We only follow the Young Master’s orders!”

“……”

“Young Master, we have been negligent in not properly following your orders! This time, we will follow your instructions without fail! So order us! In the name of the Infinity Sword!”

Baek Hoemyung nodded silently.

“Reorganize here.”

An order that didn’t fit the elevated atmosphere. Just when a bit of disappointment was starting to be noticed, Baek Hoemyung continued.

“And then we will go and cut off Wei Yanho’s head.”

The spirit boiled again.

“Why have you come here?”

“Is there any place I can’t go?”

“Of course not. There’s no place in the world you can’t go. And even less so if it’s where the Baek Family is.”

Heavenly Flowing Sword smiled.

“I thought you would need me, so I came.”

Baek Hoemyung pursed his lips.

What would have happened if Heavenly Flowing Sword hadn’t come?

Just thinking about it made him dizzy.

Thanks to him, they were able to regain control of the situation.

“Uncle.”

“Tell me, Young Master.”

“Please, take command.”

“…Command?”

“I’m incompetent. I lack. I don’t yet have the ability to lead the Great Family.”

Heavenly Flowing Sword looked at him with a strange expression.

“They would also prefer you to lead them. So for the sake of the great plan…”

“Young Master.”

His voice was cold and firm.

Baek Hoemyung trembled at the coldness in his tone.

“Listen to me carefully.”

“…Yes.”

“We’re not doing this for immediate results. It’s important to dominate the martial world now and make them pay, but more important is that the name of the Infinity Sword resounds for the next thousand years.”

“……”

“And those who must carry out that great plan aren’t old men like us, but the young people of the next generation like you. Don’t seek to end everything with punishments. What we must embrace isn’t the mission of punishment, but that of resurgence.”

“I will remember it.”

“Clench your teeth. Straighten your shoulders. Make mistakes, fail, even if you make a fool of yourself before the world, you are the Young Master of the Baek Family!”

Baek Hoemyung clenched his fists.

“That’s what it means to lead. You must bear that immense responsibility. Even if your bones break and your flesh is torn under the weight, resist and keep resisting. Only then will you deserve to be called Young Master of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I will remember it, I will remember it well!”

Heavenly Flowing Sword nodded.

Baek Hoemyung’s eyes began to show determination again.

“But… what about the Clan Leader?”

Upon mentioning the Clan Leader, Heavenly Flowing Sword’s expression twisted slightly.