Chapter 175

That’s right.
I heard that the Ami Sect was destroyed,
and the Sect of Zongnan was also destroyed on this spot.
Close the eyes of the believer and cover the corpse of Hye-yeon.
The deaths of the Revolutionary Ligon and the Zongnan martial artists also remain here for the last time.
“……Gumzon.”
The Red Ark of Gaoqing. If it weren’t for the beggars of the open sea.
“Thank you.”
The hundreds of Zheng Sect members who had died on this spot fluttered in the lonely wind, almost becoming wild prey and desecrating the remaining corpses.
“The …… monk’s words have stirred even our beggars. Even this old man’s stinking heart is broken, and I can see why the revolutionaries of Zhongnan and all the children of Zhongnan have come to their senses.”
“If that’s his last word, we should follow it.”
“But…… swordzone.”
“Tell me.”
“Don’t you think you should get some rest?”
I look puzzled at Red Ark’s words.
Rest, what does that mean?
“You don’t seem to be taking too much care of your body, your physical body. Look at your body now. What kind of condition it is in.”
With those words, I suddenly looked down at my own body.
The battle at Mugangok,
the mediation with the Aggies,
the power I accelerated to open Song Linzheng’s gate.
Wiping out the Hong Qian enemies throwing wall bombs.
And finally, the recoil of not taking care of himself after the final battle with Bai Guang, when he had ridden all the way to this far away place.
It was coming as soon as I recognized it.
A trembling grip and an unshaven body.
All the wounds that had been covered in blood had healed, but there were some that had grown larger and were still oozing blood from the lack of proper tourniqueting.
I didn’t even think to fill the empty sockets.
I almost dropped the black cloth I was holding.
Seeing the scene, the Red Ark drooled together.
“Do you know that the openings have great intelligence?”
“Of course.”
“Do you also know that many late-stage masters of the various sects look up to him?”
This is the first time I’ve heard of it. Why would they want me?
“Beyond the terms, a young man who is still only in his twenties is able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Wu Nanaxiong, and step boldly in front of the wall of death, who wouldn’t recognize him, especially those who can’t control their young blood.”
“It’s …… all for the best, but you have too much gold on your face.”
“Even if it is gold.”
I knew what he was going to say. I realized that the gazes of the beggars of Zhengzhou, including the Red Ark of Zhengzhou, and many of them, were quite sincere.
“You are in my good graces. Recover.”
At those words, I shook my head. The hour is urgent. Many are dying even now.
“Not when so many have died because I’ve wasted this time. I can’t have that.”
I didn’t show it, but my heart was pounding.
Galpyeong, the man who killed Hye-yeon,
the resentment I felt toward Sapa Chen for wiping out so many people here, and the deep anger I felt at Sapa’s movements that seemed to come from nowhere.
At this moment.
There was no way I could sit idly by and take care of myself.
“……What did you hear me say just now?”
Red Ark’s words snapped me out of my thoughts.
“The fact that so many people in the Zheng Sect are looking at you, young master, does not mean that they are merely admiring you.”
Hong Ark’s words were urgent.
“Do you know what’s left at the end of this war, the Great War of the Zheng Sect?”
The Red Ark had spent the past year. Just like the South Palace Wall in his previous life, he had spent his time on the battlefield, fighting fierce skirmishes, offensives, and information warfare.
The last words of the war, as it looked at me, were.
“Nothingness. And emptiness.” It’s a poignant reminder of why the Buddhist monk left those last words.
What is left at the end of war?
A ruined battlefield, friends who were laughing and talking together are dead, and family members who were living together are lying dead.
As a result, I also realized something.
The fight in my past life was like that.
So futile, so lonely, so empty.
But all I can do is pick up my sword again and step forward…….
“Nevertheless.”
Taking a deep breath, the Red Ark continued.
“In spite of this, why do you think you’re dying to fight this war?”
“…….”
“Because of them.”
His gaze fell on the beggars of the open, the younger ones.
“Though this war may have been fought by so many ties, my cubs must be protected, and from those protected hopes comes the next.”
“……!”
I sucked in a breath.
From the hopes saved, there is next.
At those words, I looked at the Red Ark.
“The death of the monk, the death of the believer, and the death of the revolutionary.”
The Red Ark smirked.
“It’s not that you don’t understand. Neither do I. To give one’s life so that there may be hope for the next, and the next, and the next. That’s what we do, isn’t it?”
I anticipate the Red Ark’s next words, but I must hear them.
“For the next hope, for the children after that. Gumzon must live, and the old men must be trusted.”
The hopes of the young rest on the name of Gumzon.
The Red Ark says that Gumzon must be there to keep the flame alive.
“……Ark.”
“I will not argue with you at length. Recover quickly.”
With that, I sat down, unable to argue further.
“Thank you.”
As I turned in my chair, I made eye contact with the other Open Disciples, not forgetting to thank them as well.
“Please wait a moment.”
“It’s an honor to be able to move for the sake of the sword.”
“Kuh-heh-heh-heh, I can’t believe this lowly bastard can be here.”
“Yekki, you’ll do your job.”
I turned and sat down, and without further delay, fell into the depths.
I refused, but I sat down and closed my eyes.
Deep enough that I wondered when I would ever be able to look back and see myself.
I have slaughtered countless people, and my insensitivity to killing has merged with my years of being called a sword demon and a flesh demon.
I remember the victor of the Fengyun Branch and the battle.
I realized the use of the ‘karma’ that I had developed in that battle,
The fierce moment with Baekwang awakens me once again.
What to discard, what to embody.
I pick and choose, moving without stopping.
“……whoa.”
And with that, I slowly slip into it.
* * *
“I don’t know how the ark of the open ended up here.”
Seeing the Ark of Openness slowly walk out, wiping the bloody sword with a leaf, Hong Jiabao’s expression hardened.
“You waited for the right time.”
“Yes. Given the circumstances.”
Many martial artists in Galpyeong and Sapient Heaven yawned as they watched him slowly walk out. Even in their blood-stained robes, their expressions were quite cheerful.
Their combat senses were still alive,
and their exhausted physical strength had been replenished.
What better state for a warrior to be in.
“By the looks of it, the Thunderbolt Sword King seems to be deeply asleep.”
“So, the Deathly Heavenly Lord is still like this.”
Galpyeong burst out laughing at Hong Jiabao’s words.
“Hahahahahaha!”
His roaring laughter vibrates in all directions. The sheer force of his laughter made Hong Jiabao feel even more devastated.
The gap between him and this Martial King was far too great.
“Come, come, come. Good words. Unfortunately, in war, it’s not the strong that wins, but the one who wins that is strong. I’ve learned a lot from Hye Yeon’s death.”
At those words, the beggars of Honggabo and Genggang slumped back in their seats, nervous. They clench their lips tightly as they clench their fists and the batting sticks in their hands.
“……, all of you, take up your positions and unfurl your batons.”
“Got it!”
The openings move in unison. Normally, they would have been joking around, but after realizing the situation, their movements became very tense.
“This is it, Wen. It looks like all the main forces of the opening are here. What if the opening is destroyed?”
“……We will not die so easily.”
“Alas, you still haven’t revealed that you have more guests.”
Galpyeong chuckles. Hong Qibo’s expression stiffened at the sight of that laugh. Following Galpyeong’s gaze, Hong Jiabao literally fell into despair.
“Why would the author of…….”
“Well, it’s his karma, you understand. We have our own reasons.”
Galpyeong shrugged, and Yi walked out from beside him.
“I’ll have to kill them all.”
White mane, crude-looking claws like those of a beast.
Fangs at the corners of his mouth.
Slowly, the man walks out, each tooth indistinguishable from the other.
“……Green Forest King Bai Guang.”
“I recognize him.”
“It’s no secret that he fled from the fight with Swordzong.”
Bai Guang’s expression twisted at Hong Jiabao’s words. At that, Galpyeong exclaimed.
“You did? I’m a fool. You’re so good at embarrassing yourself, this guy called Yue Tian Hui.”
“Shut up. Before I tear you to pieces.”
“What pride.”
Galpyeong clicked his tongue and shook his head, and a steady stream of blood light shot out from the white light’s eyes, chasing after Swordzon among the open swords.
Because of him, I opened the secret book I had been hiding. For he has claimed the heart of the Green Forest as his own.
“If you give me him, I have no regrets. Bastards.”
The white light’s momentum grew stronger and stronger, and in an instant, he had this entire area under his control. Like a mountain lord, wild animals unable to escape his domain.
“……You can’t do that.”
Hong Qibo’s batting stick snapped.
I can feel Swordzon sitting behind me, absorbed in his own thoughts. I will protect it no matter what.
Protect, protect, protect.
At that moment, Bai Guang’s figure instantly disappears. Just as quickly as his new form disappeared.
Kwang!
Hong Qibo’s body bounces off, leaving nail marks from his chest to his thighs in one fell swoop. As if he didn’t just become an ark of openings, Hong Kabo unleashes his trademark chop, which is his favorite move.
Of course, in one move.
“……The god of beggars, the taekwondo, breaks a taekwondo stick.”
“I never thought I’d be blocked by a beggar’s god, but I am.”
Hong Jiabo’s pale face turned pale and he coughed up blood. With a single move, everything he had built up had been destroyed.
The moment he had been holding on to hope,
had turned to despair in an instant.