Chapter 392
"Heartless bastards."
"..."
Looking at Jang-il, whose face was filled with all kinds of dissatisfaction and spite, Peng Dao-ji spoke teasingly.
"What's the problem now?"
"Problem? You're the problem. When something like this happens, we should discuss it together and find a solution. If you just tell me you're going without saying a word, what does that make my position?"
"I simply didn't want to waste unnecessary time."
"Waste?"
"That's right. No matter how much you resist, you'll end up following along anyway, so why waste energy on that?"
"Heh, who knows what might happen if we joined forces to resist?"
"Humans learn through experience. So tell me, have you ever succeeded in resisting even once until now?"
"...No."
"Exactly."
Peng Dao-ji looked at Jang-il with a face that said he was pathetic.
"You should drop that bad habit of opposing everything first before looking at the situation. You need to speak according to the circumstances to be understood, don't you? How could we possibly overturn a direct order from the Military Strategist?"
"...You seem to have changed a bit."
"Changed, indeed."
Peng Dao-ji clicked his tongue.
"I can't stay dejected forever."
Peng Dao-ji shrugged his shoulders.
The world was full of monsters.
Normally, when facing enemies you absolutely couldn't catch up to with your own strength, you'd become disheartened, but Peng Dao-ji thought the opposite. The differences with peers who had been tormenting them until now, or the injustices within the family—such things were far too trivial problems.
With Wei Yan-ho right before his eyes, what did it matter if there were others stronger than him, and with the Demonic Cult possibly attacking, what problem was it how he was treated within the family?
They say if you turn your head, there's paradise, and those words were exactly right.
Having experienced so many things, everything he had worried and fretted about until now felt meaningless.
"So you're saying you'll follow along?"
"I have to go."
Peng Dao-ji spoke with conviction.
"Because there's a path there."
"A path?"
Peng Dao-ji nodded quietly.
"I'm going to follow Wei Yan-ho. Not because of Father's orders, but by my own will."
"...Are you in your right mind?"
"Of course it will be harsh. That guy's surroundings never have peaceful days. But..."
Peng Dao-ji lightly clenched his fist.
All the experiences he couldn't have even with a lifetime of training were there. And there was also someone who could fill the weaknesses that couldn't be filled even with a lifetime of training.
"If I stick by his side, I'll become stronger. That's enough."
"Amitabha."
It wasn't easy to figure out what Mu-san was thinking from his face as he quietly chanted the Buddha's name.
"The benefactor's words are correct."
"Even the monk?"
"The times have already reached a point beyond control. No matter how much we try to escape, it will never change. Then it's also necessary to entrust ourselves to that flow."
"Crazy bastards."
Jang-il couldn't understand these people's way of thinking at all.
When a typhoon comes, you should run in the opposite direction, but wasn't this like charging into the typhoon instead?
"And it's not something we can avoid even if we try to avoid it in the first place."
"Ughhh."
Jang-il raised both hands to cover his face and trembled.
Why was that damned guy suddenly clinging to them?
"Still, I think it's fortunate."
"Fortunate?"
"Yes."
A slight joy appeared on Peng Dao-ji's face.
"To be honest, even though I was following along because of Father's orders, I was worried that Wei Yan-ho might find us bothersome. Coldly speaking, we're not really much help."
"...That's true."
It was a miserable reality he wanted to turn away from.
The world Wei Yan-ho belonged to was too high-level for them to join. There was no need to even mention Gwang Mu-ryang or Gwang-ma. Even Dong-chang's Grand Eunuch was an opponent they couldn't face at their level.
If they had gone to the Imperial Palace without Wei Yan-ho, far from stopping the rebellion, they would have been framed as traitors and executed by now. The person who dragged them by the scruff and solved all those countless incidents was Wei Yan-ho. Not them.
"But the fact that he's willing to take us along means he thinks of us as companions, even if we're a burden. That's something to be grateful for."
"...Is that something to be grateful for?"
"Of course."
It seemed like this guy's head had gone crazy too.
Jang-il had no choice but to seriously contemplate. Did only people like Wei Yan-ho gather around Wei Yan-ho, or did normal people also become like Wei Yan-ho when they were around him?
"We're suffering terribly because of it, though?"
"Aren't we getting stronger because of it?"
"Is getting stronger all that matters?"
"Then what else does a martial artist need?"
Jang-il was at a loss for words.
'Ah, these guys think differently from me.'
Unlike him, who dealt with information and had developed a mindset close to that of ordinary people, these guys were natural Jianghu people. Jianghu people naturally consider it normal to become stronger through hardship. No, rather than considering it normal, they're a strange group that lives considering such things the proper way.
To become stronger, they wouldn't hesitate to fall off cliffs, and they're the type who would smile while receiving hellish training that ordinary people couldn't endure for even a day.
'I should have thought of that... '
Jang-il held his head.
The very attempt to talk with these people was a mistake.
"Don't talk nonsense and get ready quickly."
"..."
"Hurry up."
Jang-il got up from his seat with his shoulders drooping.
"Oh, and..."
Peng Dao-ji spoke with a voice dripping with coldness.
"The Military Strategist specifically told me to keep a good watch on you, so don't even dream of running away."
"..."
There was no one on his side in this world.
"Damn this world."
He wished it would just collapse completely.
But far from collapsing, the sky was so clear it was sadly beautiful. Looking at the blue, blue sky without a single cloud made his heart ache.
Jang-il looked at the sky with a face that seemed about to shed tears, then slightly turned his head.
The culprit who had created this entire situation was over there.
"Oppa, be careful and come back safely."
"It's not like I'm going far."
"...Don't get hurt."
"I told you I know."
Wei Yan-ho waved his hand dismissively with a very annoyed expression.
Kuuung!
Then Wei Jeong-han's iron fist flew toward Wei Yan-ho's head.
"What kind of reaction is that to a younger sister worrying about her older brother!"
"Ahhh! Why?! I answered everything!"
"Answer politely! Politely!"
"I'm the older brother!"
Jang-il shook his head.
'When will that household ever function normally?'
Jang-il would never marry. Sometimes he felt depressed about it, but looking at that household somehow made him feel at ease.
Rather than marrying and ending up like that, it was better to live alone.
While Wei Jeong-han was scolding Wei Yan-ho, Wei Yan-ho was also paying attention in his own way. Unlike usual, wasn't he properly answering everything?
The older brother who had set out with them had been dragged away by the Demonic Cult. In such a situation, with the younger brother also saying he was going far away, she couldn't help but worry.
Wei Yan-ho also knew this fact, so he was trying to reassure Wei Su-ryeon by answering all her words, in his own way. Though the effect was nonexistent.
"Don't worry. I'm going with him too."
"Yes."
Looking at Wei Su-ryeon, who was dejected, Wei Jeong-han sighed.
"Can't I come along too?"
"The mission is too critical."
"Still..."
"If you come too, who will stay with your mother?"
At those words, Wei Su-ryeon also nodded.
In terms of heartbreak, Han Sang-ah would probably be suffering the most among them. They couldn't leave Han Sang-ah alone like that.
"Please take good care of your mother."
"Don't worry, Father."
Wei Jeong-han firmly grasped Wei Su-ryeon's hand.
Then he looked at Han Sang-ah, who seemed lost in thought.
Han Sang-ah looked like a person whose light had faded. He knew he should stay by her side, but...
'We'd only hurt together.'
If he truly thought of Han Sang-ah, he shouldn't be comforting her but should find Wei San-ho and bring him back as quickly as possible. Knowing this, Wei Jeong-han could be resolute.
"Sang-ah, please wait just a little longer. I will definitely resolve this situation."
Han Sang-ah nodded without shedding a single tear. Her lips were slightly swollen, and her complexion was pale. Just looking at her face, you could tell how much mental anguish she was suffering.
But she never tried to show such signs.
She knew how much of a burden it would be for Wei Jeong-han if she showed her sorrow now.
"Please don't overdo it."
"Sang-ah..."
"San-ho is a thoughtful child too. Once he knows the truth, he'll come back."
Wei Jeong-han closed his eyes.
Yes, that would be it.
That must be it.
Wei San-ho was their child, after all.
But there was one thing Han Sang-ah didn't know. No matter how excellent Wei San-ho's abilities were, the Demonic Cult wasn't such an easy place. Even if he tried to escape on his own, if they tried to detain Wei San-ho, there would be nothing he could do about it.
Han Sang-ah knew about Wei San-ho's birth, but she didn't know about the existence of Demon Blood.
"Yes, he's our child."
Wei Jeong-han concealed his heart with those words.
As Wei Jeong-han gently embraced Han Sang-ah and turned around, Gwon-geuk and the Divine Strategist were standing there.
"Be careful and come back safely."
"Yes."
"Something doesn't seem right."
"...I'm well aware."
He had already heard why the Dark King had requested their help. What they had to do when they got there too.
But more important than anything else was...
"When do we depart?"
"..."
Preventing that damned son from causing trouble.
"Listen here, Jeong-han."
"Yes."
"Come here for a moment."
The Divine Strategist pulled him to a place where their conversation wouldn't be heard by others.
"This mission is a bit different from what you're thinking."
"Pardon?"
"Right now you're probably thinking you need to somehow suppress that son of yours and return without incident, right?"
"Isn't that right?"
The Divine Strategist smiled meaningfully.
"That's what we have to tell others. That way we can make excuses that this was our intention. That little beggar will spread that around well. But the real mission is different."
Looking at Wei Jeong-han's puzzled face, the Divine Strategist spoke meaningfully.
"Listen carefully. If Wei Yan-ho tries to cause trouble, absolutely don't stop him."
"...What?"
"More precisely, just pretend to try to stop him. And just let Yan-ho do whatever he wants."
"Wh-why?"
"That way the Heavenly Alliance guys will also learn. What kind of monster is on this side. You have to experience something to know it, you have to experience it."
Understanding what the Divine Strategist was saying, Wei Jeong-han slightly turned his head to look at Wei Yan-ho. Then he turned his head back to look at the Divine Strategist.
"It's quite a difficult mission. However..."
The corners of Wei Jeong-han's mouth slowly curled up. Wei Jeong-han smiled meaningfully and chuckled as he spoke.
"It seems like it will be a very good experience. For both sides."
The Heavenly Alliance should experience what the Righteous Martial Alliance experienced... no, even more than that.
Wei Jeong-han had received the momentous order to make the typhoon called Wei Yan-ho make landfall on the Heavenly Alliance.
"I trust you'll do well."
Of course he could do it well.
Naturally.