Chapter 597:
"A bit…"
"Mmm."
"Right?"
Jang-il and the others slowly backed away.
'That bastard, why is he like that?'
'How would I know?'
'He seems properly pissed off?'
They already knew that while Wei Yan-ho usually acted carefree, when he actually took action, he showed no mercy. Just thinking about how many people had died by Wei Yan-ho's hands up to now, no one could ever say he was soft-hearted.
But even taking that into account, Wei Yan-ho was different from usual today.
They could feel killing intent radiating from his back.
Jang-il shuddered.
'It's scary even when he smiles while cutting people down.'
Seeing such a guy gritting his teeth and cutting people down made fear naturally wash over them.
'I should mess around more carefully next time.'
If they fooled around when that guy was in a bad mood, they'd be pulverized to the point where not even bones would remain.
Wei Jeong-han also clicked his tongue.
"He's different every single day."
Who wouldn't know that Wei Yan-ho was strong?
Wei Yan-ho no longer needed to prove his skills. His achievements so far were more than enough—they were overflowing. No one would dare doubt his abilities.
Yet Wei Yan-ho kept proving his skills.
The Wei Yan-ho who fought against the Heavenly Sword was different from the Wei Yan-ho who went to the Demonic Cult, and the Wei Yan-ho who went to the Demonic Cult was different from the Wei Yan-ho who fought the Bishop.
And the Wei Yan-ho who fought the Bishop was different from the current Wei Yan-ho.
They say that after three days of separation, one should look at someone with new eyes, but Wei Jeong-han and Wei Yan-ho weren't even three days apart to begin with.
Kwaaaaaaang!
Pure white orbs of light that Wei Yan-ho unleashed poured down onto the world like meteors.
'Frightening.'
Watching from behind, it was even clearer to see.
With each step Wei Yan-ho took forward, the terrain of the forest was changing. When this battle ended, they would need to redraw the map of this place.
Wei Jeong-han looked at Wei Yan-ho's back with sunken eyes.
'It's beyond comprehension.'
What father wouldn't be happy to see his son's skills rapidly improving? It would be something all fathers in the world would welcome. But Wei Jeong-han couldn't simply rejoice in Wei Yan-ho's strength.
He could understand the improvement in skills.
Wei Yan-ho was the Sword Emperor's disciple.
The Sword Emperor was someone who had held the position of the greatest person in history for over three hundred years—no, if you included the time when he was still alive, it was nearly four hundred years. He was someone who gripped that position and never let go.
Since he was a disciple raised by such a person, naturally he would be strong. And he would grow rapidly. Up to that point, it was completely understandable. Who in the world could even guess how strong the Sword Emperor was?
But there was a part that was completely incomprehensible.
Internal power.
Uuuuuuung!
The orbs of light that Wei Yan-ho unleashed filled the world again.
Wei Jeong-han slightly frowned as he watched the scene.
He didn't know how much internal power each of those light orbs consumed. But even if they required much less internal power than expected, the number of light orbs Wei Yan-ho had created so far exceeded a hundred.
If it were an ordinary martial artist—no, even if it were a Shaolin monk praised as the best in the world for internal power—by now they would be completely drained and then some.
Yet Wei Yan-ho wasn't tired in the slightest.
No, far from being tired, he maintained the same complexion as when he started. Then where did all that tremendous internal power come from?
'I suppose good things are good things, but…'
Wei Yan-ho was becoming strong at an absolutely tremendous speed.
"He's becoming stronger beyond common sense. Yes, truly beyond common sense. But there's no need to worry too much. That child hasn't learned demonic arts, has he? Since he's a child taught by the Sword Emperor, naturally he would be strong. That child is simply becoming strong for the role that Heaven has arranged for him."
According to Divine Beggar's words, everything moved according to Heaven's will. So Wei Yan-ho becoming stronger was also Heaven's will.
'But for what purpose?'
The entire martial world wasn't made of scarecrows, so why did only Wei Yan-ho need to become so strong?
Wei Jeong-han didn't like the situation where Wei Yan-ho was getting ahead of everything in the world by himself. Didn't it sound like Wei Yan-ho alone would have to endure all the hardships that were to come?
Seureurung.
That couldn't be allowed.
Wei Jeong-han, who had drawn his sword, slowly walked forward. Then he stood beside Wei Yan-ho, who was unleashing light orbs.
Wei Yan-ho's sharp eyes turned toward Wei Jeong-han.
"Father?"
His eyes slightly furrowed.
The meaning of that gaze was obvious. It meant to back away because he was getting in the way. In the past, Wei Jeong-han would have obediently retreated. He had acknowledged long ago that he couldn't help his son in battle.
But the current Wei Jeong-han didn't back down.
"I should at least earn my keep."
"No…"
"There's no need for you to do everything alone. Isn't that right?"
Wei Yan-ho, who had slightly opened his mouth, stopped speaking.
Then after looking at Wei Jeong-han for a long time, he raised his head to look at the sky.
"Hmm…"
He remembered what his master had said.
Suddenly, the sharpness disappeared from Wei Yan-ho's eyes. His tightly closed mouth slightly opened. Then his embarrassed hand moved toward the back of his head.
"Heh, I know that, but it doesn't work out well. Master told me not to do that."
"It's because you suddenly got angry."
"It's infuriating!"
"What is?"
"Those guys!"
Wei Yan-ho stretched his finger straight forward. He intended to point at the Hundred Sword Castle disciples.
"Huh?"
But there was no one in front of him. To be precise, there was no one standing in front of him.
In just that short time, all two hundred of Hundred Sword Castle's vanguard were lying flat on the ground. Some had lost their breath, but most were groaning and holding their breath.
"Uh, so, these guys…"
Wei Yan-ho sighed and said.
"Master said this. There are things that make you angry, things that are annoying too. And there are also things that are so unfair it drives you crazy."
"That's right."
"But he said that if you use poison, use underhanded methods, and use despicable tricks just because such things happen, you become the same kind of person."
Wei Jeong-han quietly nodded.
"So you got angry?"
"Of course I know. That it's just idealism. Master has that side to him. Where would such things exist in reality? If I absolutely have to deal with that bastard but my strength isn't enough, I'd have to use poison or whatever to somehow win. But!"
Strength entered Wei Yan-ho's voice.
"Those guys shout about Ten Thousand Swords."
Wei Yan-ho pouted.
"Those bastards who go around babbling about using Master's sword technique dare to openly do what Master hates most—I couldn't stand it. If Master had seen this sight, he would have destroyed Hundred Sword Castle with a single sword strike. Without a doubt."
"…I see, so that's it."
Wei Jeong-han's expression wouldn't soften.
Wei Yan-ho's heart in thinking of his master was truly admirable.
'But it's too excessive.'
Obsession.
Everything about Wei Yan-ho was aligned with following his master's words. He thought about right and wrong in the world based on his master as the standard. Even though he himself knew this wasn't right, his final judgment completely depended on his master.
In other words, Wei Yan-ho's world was made up of his master's words. Wei Jeong-han realized what a tremendous thing he had done.
'Why couldn't I embrace him sooner?'
For Wei Yan-ho, his master wasn't simply someone who taught him martial arts. He was someone who taught martial arts to him when he was no different from a worthless person, gave him affection, and made him recognized by the world.
His master's harsh training also became the foundation for his growth.
'It's not strange that he follows his master to an unusual degree.'
Because it was a role he couldn't fulfill.
Originally, it was something a father should have done. But Wei Jeong-han couldn't become a good father to Wei Yan-ho. Baek Mu-han filled that empty space.
Wei Yan-ho's blind faith in Baek Mu-han was less like blind faith in a master and more like a young child regarding his father as his entire world.
"I can't accept that guys who claim to inherit Ten Thousand Swords would resort to such despicable methods."
"I understand what you mean."
Wei Jeong-han let out a quiet sigh.
"I understand why you're angry. But you don't need to be angry alone."
"Mm…"
"If we need to be angry, we'll be angry together. So don't try to fight alone. Even if I can't be of great help, I can at least lighten the burden on your shoulders."
"Yes."
Wei Yan-ho nodded.
"Master said that too."
"…Right."
An unpleasant feeling remained.
It wasn't because Baek Mu-han had taken his place. Wei Jeong-han wasn't such a narrow-minded man. And if he should be angry about that fact, he should be angry at himself.
The unpleasant feeling Wei Jeong-han was experiencing now was about Wei Yan-ho.
The discomfort that Wei Yan-ho's over-immersion in Baek Mu-han might someday come back to poison him made his mouth taste bitter.
'Am I thinking too much?'
Wei Jeong-han shook his head vigorously.
Wei Yan-ho was doing well. Too well, in fact. What more could he ask for here? That would be too harsh on Wei Yan-ho.
It would be the same for all parents to be bothered by minor flaws in their children. But not being able to tolerate even those flaws was a parent's greed.
"Yan-ho."
"Yes, Father."
"You are the second son of the Wei Family of Guangdong."
"…"
"Never forget that."
"Yes. I haven't forgotten."
"Good, that's enough."
That was sufficient, for now.
While Wei Yan-ho and Wei Jeong-han were having their conversation, Jang-il and the others cautiously approached.
Looking at the completely devastated area in front of them, Jang-il shook his head.
"Completely smashed it to pieces. Ignorant bastard."
Even as he spoke, he was dumbfounded.
Until they arrived here, no one knew the battle would unfold like this. No one could have imagined it.
Even though they had clearly seen Wei Yan-ho's divine prowess with their own eyes at the Righteous Alliance's main headquarters, they couldn't feel at ease. They knew the Bishops were strong, had clearly seen their power, but still couldn't truly grasp it.
Just how strong Wei Yan-ho was.
The Bishops had too little known about them to serve as a measure of Wei Yan-ho's strength. They fell to Wei Yan-ho's sword before anyone could truly grasp how much stronger they had become compared to the past.
'He's really become a monster now.'
Thinking about how different the Wei Yan-ho he first met was from the current Wei Yan-ho, Jang-il shook his head.
'It doesn't seem like he could lose.'
Although it was the worst situation with both Hundred Sword Castle and the Demonic Cult pressing in simultaneously, looking at Wei Yan-ho, he didn't think they would lose. When he thought about who could possibly break this crazy bastard, it was too obvious a conclusion.
"Beggar."
"Yeah?"
"Don't get distracted. More are coming."
At Wei Yan-ho's words, Jang-il looked forward with tense eyes. The bushes rustled, and a man walked forward. The man slightly frowned when he saw the devastated surroundings.
"What a mess."
The man's gaze reached Wei Yan-ho.
"So, you're Wei Yan-ho."
Just as Wei Yan-ho was about to crack some joke, the man spoke first.
"Nice to meet you. I'm called Baek Hoe-myeong. I'm the Young Castle Lord of Hundred Sword Castle—no, I hold the position of Young Family Head of the Ten Thousand Swords Baek Family."
At the man's words, the surrounding air grew coldly still.