Chapter 390
"Thousand Medical Lotus?"
Wei Jeong-han couldn't help but fall into serious contemplation.
Since ancient times, the Central Plains had valued Confucianism.
What was the foundation of Confucianism?
Wasn't it loyalty and filial piety?
He too had emphasized loyalty and filial piety to his three children since they were young. All human virtues begin with upholding benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, so he had always told them to live keeping benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, and to carry loyalty and filial piety in their hearts.
But…
'How did such a fellow end up being born?'
That fellow lying sprawled on the bed, sticking out just his head with a face that said, 'Why are you bothering me with such nonsense, Father?'
Where did it all go wrong?
His heart wanted to make excuses that the five years when Wei Yan-ho had gone missing were the cause of all this. But Wei Jeong-han knew very well that wasn't the case.
'This kid was like this from the beginning anyway.'
Was it because he hadn't properly looked after his son during that long period of wandering, causing him to go astray?
'Then what about San-ho!'
It was actually San-ho who had been separated from them during the most crucial time when children need their parents. Yet hadn't Wei San-ho grown up properly? At this point, he had no choice but to blame his nature.
"Well, when your father speaks, you should get up and listen."
"Can't we talk about it tomorrow? It's late at night."
"..."
"Even if you're my father, waking someone up from sleep and suddenly starting a conversation doesn't seem right."
"Of course not. However, there's something I want to ask you..."
"Yes?"
"So how many hours are you actually awake?"
"..."
"It's not like I don't know you, and when you lie down covered with blankets like that, I know you sleep ten shijin a day, so are you telling me to somehow find the remaining two shijin to come talk to you?"
"Well, to put it that way."
"Ah, I see."
When Wei Jeong-han grabbed his sword hilt, Wei Yan-ho slyly sat up.
"Now that I think about it, talking now seems right."
"...Damn brat."
Wei Yan-ho, who had taken a seat, frowned.
"So you're saying I have to go to Thousand Medical Lotus?"
"That's right."
"Who said so?"
"The Military Advisor, of course."
"I have one question—may I ask?"
"Ask away."
Wei Yan-ho spoke with a face full of dissatisfaction.
"Did you perhaps cause some unspeakable trouble with Grandfather the Military Advisor in your youth? Or maybe he has some dirt on you, or you borrowed a large sum of money from him?"
"...What are you talking about?"
"If that's not it, then I don't understand why you're so eager to do work on his behalf. Do you even receive a salary from the Righteous Martial Alliance?"
"No."
"But still."
"Well, the Righteous Martial Alliance..."
Wei Jeong-han started to speak but then closed his mouth. Talking about cooperation and justice wouldn't get through to this fellow. He'd only receive mocking looks if he bothered saying such things.
He didn't want to receive such looks from his own son.
"Be quiet. Stop making excuses and get ready."
"Father."
Wei Yan-ho let out a deep sigh.
"Elder brother is currently captured by the Demonic Cult, and you're talking about leisurely going to Thousand Medical Lotus—does that even make sense?"
"A decent excuse. But it's a bit weak."
"I'm not joking."
"..."
Wei Jeong-han quietly looked at Wei Yan-ho. Wei Yan-ho's face showed more irritation than annoyance. Confirming this fact, Wei Jeong-han also sighed.
"Yan-ho."
"Yes."
"My heart is more urgent than yours."
"I'm sure it is."
"But it's not a problem that can be solved by rushing in recklessly. That's what I think."
"But we can't just sit around waiting either."
"That's why I'm saying we should go to Thousand Medical Lotus."
"What?"
Wei Jeong-han spoke with a stern face.
"Now that the situation has reached this point, war between the Central Plains and the Demonic Cult has become an unavoidable reality. The best way to rescue San-ho from the Demonic Cult is to bring down the Demonic Cult."
"..."
"The Military Advisor and the Alliance Leader seem to think they can come up with other methods before it comes to that, but I don't believe it. It's not that I don't trust their intentions, but I don't believe we can do anything to the Demonic Cult. The Demonic Cult is that frightening an opponent."
Wei Yan-ho nodded.
The Demonic Cult was certainly a fearsome existence.
Thanks to the Mad Blood Demon, Wei Yan-ho could clearly understand that fact.
'He was terrifying.'
He had confidence.
His master was the Greatest Under Heaven.
So wasn't the martial arts he learned also the martial arts of the Greatest Under Heaven? Having learned the martial arts of the Greatest Under Heaven from the master who was the Greatest Under Heaven, he believed he wouldn't easily lose to anyone.
No matter how young Wei Yan-ho was and how recently he had learned martial arts, hadn't he crossed hands with Quan Ji? Moreover, he had fought evenly with Guang Wu-liang. With just a little more time, even if he couldn't compare to his master, he was confident he could face anyone under heaven.
But that confidence was completely shattered thanks to theMad Blood Demon.
'They won't wait.'
If time passed and he became stronger, it would certainly be possible. The problem was that they had no reason to give Wei Yan-ho time.
If the Demonic Cult attacked tomorrow, could Wei Yan-ho stop them?
Impossible.
Then there was only one way to deal with the Demonic Cult. Either somehow buy time for Wei Yan-ho to grow stronger, or gather those who would fight alongside him.
"In the end, we have no choice but to fight and defeat them. If we don't, they will never give up San-ho. Even if you infiltrate and bring San-ho back, nothing will change."
"Why?"
"Because they'll advance into the Central Plains to reclaim San-ho."
"...Why are those bastards so obsessed with elder brother?"
"Because of his Demon Blood."
"Demon Blood?"
"I can't explain it to you. To be honest, I don't really know what that Demon Blood means either. But I know for certain their obsession with Demon Blood. I guarantee you, as long as San-ho doesn't die, they will never give up."
Wei Yan-ho shook his head as if he couldn't understand at all.
It didn't seem like Wei Jeong-han was hiding anything. Then what on earth did this Demon Blood mean?
"...Then Military Advisor Grandfather can speak so calmly because he doesn't know what this Demon Blood is?"
"That's right."
"Then why doesn't he tell him?"
"Because it would be meaningless. It's only because I've met that fellow's father directly that I try to understand somehow."
"What exactly..."
"Being the bloodline of the Great Demon Emperor means nothing. But being the bloodline of the Great Demon Emperor means everything."
Wei Yan-ho's eyebrows twitched.
"They didn't take elder brother for symbolic meaning or out of loyalty. There was something only elder brother could do."
"Yes, I think so too. There must be something so important that they had to send a Bishop, who could be called their strongest fighting force, to the heart of the Central Plains."
"Then elder brother could be in danger! Shouldn't we hurry?"
"No."
Wei Jeong-han shook his head firmly.
"That Mok-u fellow also lived in the Demonic Cult with his body intact. It must be something that requires a certain level to be reached, or else something that takes a tremendous amount of time."
"Just based on such a hunch..."
"Yan-ho!"
Wei Jeong-han spoke firmly.
"There's something I want to ask of you as a father."
"Yes?"
"Pull yourself together."
"..."
Wei Jeong-han spoke as if spitting out the words.
"Saying you'll rescue your elder brother ultimately means you'll bring down the Demonic Cult. Even Jeok Mok-u, that is, the Great Demon Emperor, had to risk his life to fight to escape from the chains of the Demonic Cult that bound him. Your elder brother has ended up in the same situation. It's not a problem that can be solved just by getting angry and being impatient."
"..."
"If you truly intend to rescue your elder brother, you must become colder than anyone else. You must bring down the Demonic Cult even if it means using everything you can use and dragging in everything you can drag in. Can you do that?"
"You're stating the obvious."
Wei Yan-ho spoke indifferently.
"I don't care what happens to the world or how things turn out. I just want our family and my friends to live happily and well. So I have to rescue my elder brother by any means necessary."
"...Even when you say the same thing, you make it sound so petty."
"What's wrong with being petty? Not everyone in the world can be a great person. There need to be some small people to make those gentlemen shine appropriately. Let those gentlemen take the grand causes and warm hearts. I'll just take care of what I need to take care of."
This might be something he should scold him for.
Especially as words from a son to his father, they weren't appropriate. But Wei Jeong-han just smiled.
'That's enough.'
Cooperation, justice.
A life lived to uphold such things was sufficient with Wei Jeong-han alone. His son could live more freely.
'Though it won't be comfortable.'
In the end, those with power were bound to get entangled in such affairs.
"Then get ready."
"What?"
"You have to go to Thousand Medical Lotus. Didn't you say we need to build up the Righteous Martial Alliance's influence in Thousand Medical Lotus so we can use it later?"
"That's that, and this is this."
"...What did you think my words were until now?"
"Oh, Father, you're being really frustrating."
"Hmm?"
Wei Yan-ho looked at Wei Jeong-han with eyes that seemed to find him pathetic and said:
"Look, even if you go and suffer through hardships, when the time actually comes, their words will change. When their own lives are at stake, what does it matter whether 'we received kindness' or 'we're close friends'?"
"..."
"Right now they'll cry tears of gratitude if you go help them, but when it's time for them to help, they'll say they're very grateful but the situation is such that they can't help. Then they'll shed one tear while pretending to be heartbroken and become righteous heroes."
Wei Jeong-han could only gape.
"You, where on earth did you hear all that?"
"From Master."
"...That, that gentleman?"
"Master said that while gratitude and grudges are the driving force that moves the world, when the truly important moment comes, they're completely useless. What's needed at important times is power. If this side is stronger, they'll naturally side with us, so why bother building friendships beforehand? It's better to spend that time training."
Wei Jeong-han smiled warmly at Wei Yan-ho's logical words.
"Yes, well said. Training is better. Then instead of going to Thousand Medical Lotus, let's train together starting tomorrow."
"...Training?"
"Why? Didn't you just say training is better?"
"I was just saying that's how it is."
"No need for long explanations. Either go to Thousand Medical Lotus, or train with me for ten shijin every day starting tomorrow... choose one of the two."
"Ten shijin?"
"Yes."
"Can a person train that much and still live?"
"I wouldn't know, I haven't tried it. We'll find out if we try this time."
"..."
Wei Yan-ho, who had been pondering for a while, cautiously raised his head.
"Is Thousand Medical Lotus far?"
And so Wei Yan-ho's journey to Thousand Medical Lotus was decided.