Chapter 628

Chapter 628 – Encounter with the Lazy (3)

“Wei Yanho?”

The Master of Divine Abilities frowned slightly. Why was Wei Yanho’s name being mentioned again here?

“I have something I want to confirm,” Baek San said, fixing his gaze on Wei Yanho. Under that intense gaze, Wei Yanho shrugged… no, rather, he flinched.

“You can ask me anything. Should I answer?”

“No, the answers are not up to you,” Baek San said in a monotonous voice.

“I heard a rumor, and I want to verify it. During the war against Baekgeom Fortress, something strange happened, they say.”

“Something strange?”

“Yes.”

Baek San glanced around. After making eye contact with everyone present, he continued:

“I heard that those affected by the strange illness lost large amounts of internal energy during the healing process. Because of this, Shaolin, Wudang, and the Namgung Family are said to have suffered severe damage. Is that true?”

Being suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Namgung Jowi frowned.

“…It’s true.”

It wasn’t something they wanted to admit willingly.

Because it would seem like they were blaming Wei Yanho. Moreover, however true it might be, it wasn’t something that should be discussed in front of the leaders of other factions.

No one would want to publicly admit that their combat strength was no longer what it used to be.

But faced with such a direct question, they had no choice but to answer.

“It was something that happened during the healing process.”

“Of course. I don’t intend to obstruct. If it hadn’t been for the young hero Wei Yanho, no one would have been able to heal them, and without treatment, they would all have died. The achievements of the young hero Wei Yanho are beyond any words. I express my respect.”

Baek San bowed his head slightly towards Wei Yanho.

“However…”

But that gesture seemed to be just the prelude, as Baek San raised his voice.

“The problem isn’t the result, but the method of healing. If that internal energy had simply been lost, no one could blame the young hero Wei Yanho. But if that energy was transferred to the young hero Wei Yanho, then this isn’t something we can overlook.”

The Master of Divine Abilities closed his eyes.

It was a thorny issue.

That’s why they had tried to avoid it as much as possible. But Baek San had deliberately brought it up.

“But that was during the process of…”

“Sir Strategist.”

Baek San interrupted the Master of Divine Abilities.

“If this were the only incident, I wouldn’t have mentioned it either. After all, the result was that he saved everyone, wasn’t it? I don’t think that only correct methods should be followed to achieve a goal. Even if a method isn’t correct, if it can produce results, it should be used.”

“No!”

Wei Jeonghan jumped up from his seat.

“Sit down.”

“But Sir Strategist!”

“Haven’t I told you to sit down? Now is the time to listen.”

Wei Jeonghan glared angrily at Baek San before sitting back down.

‘Evil bastard.’

Baek San was skillfully manipulating the situation to make it seem like Wei Yanho had used incorrect methods. He seemed to be defending him, but in reality, he was accusing Wei Yanho of using trickery.

“Continue.”

Baek San coughed slightly and continued:

“The feeling of loss of those who lost their internal energy must be indescribable.”

“It’s better than being dead.”

“Yes, I agree. But there is something I can’t help but question.”

Baek San looked directly at Wei Yanho.

“The young hero Wei Yanho has achieved incredible feats. People now call him the ‘Radiant Sword Hero’, don’t they? It’s impressive. Truly extraordinary.”

Unnecessary flattery followed. Everyone present realized that Baek San was setting the stage for what he really wanted to say.

“But, let me tell you something. The basis of those incredible feats lies in the incredibly powerful abilities of the young hero Wei Yanho. They were possible because he is strong. However…”

Baek San’s tongue moved nimbly like that of a snake.

“Why is the young hero Wei Yanho so strong?”

The hall fell silent.

“Being strong is a good thing. When I first heard about the young hero Wei Yanho, I was happy that another pillar had appeared in the martial world. But the more I heard the rumors, the stranger it seemed to me. How can the young hero Wei Yanho be so strong?”

“Do you want him to weaken on purpose?”

At Wei Jeonghan’s sarcastic comment, Baek San shook his head.

“No, no. Being strong is good. And it’s not such an unusual thing. Sometimes geniuses appear who transcend the common sense of the world. Like Wei Yanho’s older brother, Wei Sanho.”

Upon mentioning Wei Sanho’s name, Wei Jeonghan’s expression became even more somber. Just as he was about to explode, a chubby hand pressed his shoulder.

Realizing that it was Wei Yanho who had touched his shoulder, Wei Jeonghan turned his head. Wei Yanho was smiling knowingly.

Only then did Wei Jeonghan sigh and relax.

“Wei Sanho was also a genius. Extremely impressive. But the young hero Wei Yanho is on another level. It can’t be explained simply as a genius. Do you know where that difference comes from?”

The Master of Divine Abilities stared intently at Baek San with a tense face.

Everything said so far had only been a preparation for this question.

Although he had a rebuttal prepared, Baek San nailed the nail before the Master of Divine Abilities could answer.

“It’s the internal energy.”

The moment he uttered those words, the atmosphere in the room turned icy.

“It’s a difference in level in internal energy. Even when Wei Sanho was said to be a genius who appeared once every hundred years, he was called ‘Post-Domain’ because of his internal energy. In fact, everyone present here knows: the reason why exceptional talents of the Post-Domain cannot easily advance to the next level is precisely because of the lack of internal energy, isn’t it?”

“…”

“Internal energy cannot be obtained through shortcuts. Only time can solve that problem. But…”

Baek San’s gaze locked onto Wei Yanho.

“The internal energy of the young hero Wei Yanho is too powerful to be explained like that. I don’t even dare to compare myself to his level.”

“That’s because now inside Wei Yanho…”

“And what was it like before?”

“…”

“Could someone with a lack of internal energy kill a bishop of the Demon Cult and defeat the Heavenly Flowing Sword? That’s not the only thing that seems suspicious to me. The increase in his level has been too abrupt. During the incident at the Mount Hua branch, Wei Yanho couldn’t cope with a bishop of the Demon Cult. But in this battle of Luoyang, he eliminated two bishops. How much time has passed between those events?”

“Then…”

The warmth disappeared from the Master of Divine Abilities’ voice.

“What is it that you want to say?”

“I just want an explanation.”

“How am I supposed to explain becoming stronger?”

“Why are you reacting like this, Sir Strategist?”

“What?”

Baek San smiled faintly and said:

“You are being too defensive. If reasonable suspicions arise, isn’t it natural to question? Can’t we have any doubts about Wei Yanho?”

“…”

“Then I’ll be direct. I’ll be the villain. Honestly, I suspect that the young hero Wei Yanho has been using trickery to absorb the internal energy of others.”

Gong Mu opened his mouth wide.

How dare he say it so brazenly?

He admitted it.

There were reasons to suspect. But it was something that no one dared to say out loud.

And Baek San had just blurted it out. At this point, Wei Yanho had no choice but to give an explanation. If he didn’t offer an adequate explanation, he could be publicly singled out.

That’s why both Wei Jeonghan and the Master of Divine Abilities couldn’t hide their discomfort. In fact, the Master of Divine Abilities seemed even angrier than Wei Jeonghan.

‘Despicable bastard.’

How dare he corner Wei Yanho at a time like this?

Reasonable suspicions?

Everything has its time. With Baekgeom Fortress and the Demon Cult before them, did it make sense to divide among themselves?

“Not everything that is said is valid!”

“Sir Strategist, I’m not saying it for emotional reasons.”

Baek San calmly reclined in his seat.

“If the circumstances weren’t like this, I wouldn’t have any suspicions either. But all the circumstances point to the fact that we can’t avoid questioning him. A talent from the Post-Domain whose internal energy increased abruptly, and who during the treatment of others absorbed their internal energy. Isn’t it natural to suspect that the same thing has happened before?”

The Master of Divine Abilities gritted his teeth.

‘Damn it’.

It was complete nonsense.

“There are no victims, how can you suspect that something like that happened?!”

“Of course there are no victims. They wouldn’t be alive.”

“Nonsense! Not everything that is said is valid!”

“Sir Strategist, I don’t think my doubts are unreasonable. If you react so vehemently, rather…”

“Rather?”

Just when the Master of Divine Abilities was about to stand up, a relaxed voice was heard.

“Shouldn’t you be asking me instead of fighting among yourselves?”

Of course, the voice belonged to Wei Yanho.

The gazes of Baek San and Wei Yanho intertwined in the air. Baek San’s eyes were extremely sharp, while Wei Yanho’s sparkled with amusement.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

Baek San spoke with a tense face.

“Go ahead, answer me. How did you get so much internal energy? Can you prove that you didn’t steal it from others?”

“Uncle, what a funny guy.”

Wei Yanho chuckled.

“Funny?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Why should I prove it?”

“What?”

“Uncle, it seems that you are so used to being in a high position where with just a flick of your finger others do what you want, that you have forgotten something: whoever makes an accusation must prove it.”

“What are you saying?”

“Uncle, you went into my room before, right?”

“What are you talking about? I’ve never been in your room.”

“You went in and stole my money. The money I had saved in a corner.”

“T-This kid, what are you saying?! I never did!”

“Then prove it.”

“What?”

Wei Yanho stood up and stared intently at Baek San.

“Prove right now that you didn’t steal my money.”

“…”

“As we are short on time, it would be better if you did it quickly. If you can’t prove it, I’ll give you a punch for every coin you stole from me. Hey, Beggar Sect!”

“Eh?”

“How much money was in my bag?”

“Mmm… about five hundred nyang?”

“…As much as that?”

Jangil closed his mouth.

“How cruel, you’re really not human. Anyway, he says there were five hundred nyang. That’s five hundred punches.”

Baek San trembled with anger.

He had never been treated that way.

“It seems that you feel unfairly accused, but it’s not the time to complain. Now you must prove that you didn’t do it.”

“This… this brat…”

“Do you think it’s a joke?”

When Wei Yanho lowered his voice, a suffocating tension flooded the room.