The Return of the Sword God Chapter 148 : We’re Going Too. -04

Chapter 148: We’re Going Too. -04

“Certainly, it wasn’t entirely without that kind of feeling.”

While listening to his Master’s words laced with concern, Ban Hojin nodded.

Damhyeon might not have known, but the one who knew Ironblood Fortress best was Ban Hojin.

The place he had mainly dealt with was the Northern Sea Ice Palace, but he had also clashed quite often with Ironblood Fortress.

In particular, aside from the Fortress Lord, Ironblood Fortress possessed powerful figures known as Great Warriors.

“Many are seeing this not as a war, but as an opportunity. A chance to make their own nas known.”

“It has been a long peace, after all. One could even say there are many who welco it.”

“They have already forgotten that this peace was achieved through the blood of their predecessors.”

“Then… are you thinking of Mount Hua Sect?”

Ban Hojin asked casually.

The way his Master spoke made it seem as though he would head to Mount Hua Sect.

Ironblood Fortress was also moving toward Shaanxi Province.

“I have not decided yet. But must we necessarily move together?”

“That is true. Mount Hua Sect already has Great Hero Blade King there, and this ti the Namgung Family Head and the Peng Family Head have joined as well.”

At present, Mount Hua Sect had no fewer than three of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven gathered there.

However, the problem was that the Great Warriors of the Great Desert were said to be at a level comparable to—or only slightly below—the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.

The Ironblood Fortress Lord, anwhile, was more than worthy of being called a monster.

If the three joined forces, it would not be impossible to take down the Ironblood Fortress Lord. The issue was that the likelihood of such cooperation was slim.

This was also the fatal weakness of the Orthodox Martial World.

In terms of sheer numbers, they overwhelmingly surpassed Ironblood Fortress. The problem was their woefully insufficient unity.

“There are quite a few who think of it as an opportunity rather than a war.”

“Peace has been long, after all.”

If asured purely by scale of forces, they overwheld Ironblood Fortress. Yet if those forces were not properly utilized, it would be nothing more than a pearl necklace on a pig’s neck.

There had been more than a few cases where, despite holding the advantage, an army suffered crushing defeat due to a commander’s foolish decision.

“The Bangcheon Sect Leader also seems to be considering the Great Desert.”

“I have not received any word regarding that.”

“He must be contemplating it. He has not yet made a decision.”

“You wish for to go to Mount Hua Sect, then.”

“It is not an order. rely sothing for you to consider. If it were you and the Bangcheon Sect Leader, I would feel at ease. At the very least, it would not descend into the worst-case scenario.”

Damhyeon smiled faintly.

He spoke so because he trusted Ban Hojin that much.

Knowing his disciple’s abilities better than anyone, Damhyeon offered the suggestion gently.

“If it does not end decisively like the Nine Heavens Gate, the situation will worsen in many ways.”

“Exactly. Other factions may seek a fisherman’s profit.”

Ban Hojin nodded.

If possible, he wished they would fight well on their own.

So that he would not have to step forward.

In truth, the forces that had gathered were considerable.

The problem, however, was that no matter how many troops there were, if they could not be properly employed, they were useless.

“We have discussed that matter once ourselves. Uiseong was worried about Tibet and the Northern Sea Ice Palace. The Demonic Cult of Xinjiang could advance at any ti as well.”

“That is right. But there are few who think that far ahead. They are blinded only by their own reputations and the fa of their families and sects.”

“Ah, and thank you for taking care of the martial arts of the Sama Family.”

Originally, Sama Uiseong had intended to co personally to express his gratitude, but Damhyeon had been extrely busy.

So much so that even Ban Hojin had not been able to visit often lately.

Thus, Ban Hojin conveyed Sama Uiseong’s words first.

“Gratitude? It rely returned to its rightful owner. Rather, it is fortunate. That the martial arts found their true master.”

“Even so, returning it and saying nothing are different matters, are they not?”

“This is Shaolin Temple. And I am a disciple of the Buddha. Though casting off greed is impossible for humans, one may still strive to do so. And when one does good, one accumulates virtuous karma. For the Main Temple, it is not a bad thing either.”

“You speak truly. But gratitude is gratitude. Uiseong also wished to co, but it seed you had sothing to say separately, so today I ca alone.”

“Bring him with you tomorrow. As a descendant of the Sama Family, I have been wanting to et him myself.”

Though he had been extrely busy these days, it was not as though he had no ti at all.

And if Ban Hojin acknowledged him, then he was certainly worth eting.

Among those Ban Hojin had chosen thus far, there had not been a single one who was not a hero.

Moreover, the fall of the Sama Family had been so futile that Damhyeon had personally found it regrettable.

“Understood. I will co tomorrow with him to pay our respects.”

“Give it so thought as well. It may be sowhat dangerous for the children.”

“The greater the danger, the greater the gain. If they survive.”

“That is true. But overconfidence is as dangerous as arrogance.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

Ban Hojin replied as he rose from his seat.

Their conversation had ended, and they had finished their tea. He intended to excuse himself.

“Ah, the death of the Monster King is spreading quietly.”

“It was about ti it beca known. There are no eternal secrets. And if it spreads naturally, it is beneficial to .”

“I am keeping watch over the Shangguan Family, so do not worry.”

“I am watching as well, in my own way.”

Ban Hojin grinned.

Where Damhyeon had the Beggars’ Sect Leader, Ban Hojin had the Hao Sect and the Geum Family Estate.

Moreover, the Hao Sect bore a long-standing grudge against the Shangguan Family, so they were paying even closer attention.

“Very well. I am sure you will handle it properly. But do not trust too much.”

“Yes. Then please rest well, Master.”

“I shall see you tomorrow.”

Receiving Damhyeon’s farewell, Ban Hojin left the Abbot’s Quarters.

His thoughts turned to Ironblood Fortress and the Nine Heavens Gate.

In a shaded corner of the Front Courtyard, which was used as the Training Grounds, Sama Uiseong leaned against a tree, watching Jeong Iryong and Seo Jo-woon spar.

Yet his right hand did not rest for a mont as he wrote sothing down.

Upon a small table he had prepared in advance, he had neatly arranged the Four Treasures of the Study and was busily moving his brush without pause.

“You look exactly like a scholar right now.”

“Brother!”

“There are things visible only to a third party, aren’t there?”

“Yes.”

Sama Uiseong lowered his head toward Ban Hojin, who had approached without a sound.

Then he revealed a slightly startled expression.

When it ca to martial arts, it truly seed there was nothing Ban Hojin did not know.

So vast was his knowledge that one might suspect he had falsified his age. Sama Uiseong looked at him with eyes filled with respect.

“Do not look at with such a gaze. It is burdenso.”

“But it is the truth.”

“If you work hard, you can achieve it too. Just as you are well-versed in formations. What you are writing down now are their habits, correct?”

“Yes. Neither of them seems aware of it. The sa habits repeat several tis. They are unaware of their own, and unaware of each other’s as well.”

“You observed well.”

Perhaps because he excelled in the arts of calligraphy and painting, Sama Uiseong also possessed considerable skill in drawing.

Even though he had drawn it in hurried strokes, the essentials were clearly expressed.

Moreover, his calligraphy was that of a master.

‘Does he possess everything except martial arts?’

Ban Hojin let out a faint chuckle.

No matter how unfair the heavens might be, it truly seed as though he had been given everything.

Though his martial arts were sowhat lacking compared to his other talents, that was only because he had learned a family-inherited martial art that had been partially lost.

He had not yet found the martial art reserved solely for the Family Head, but since he had now obtained a martial arts manual born of the sa root, Ban Hojin believed the deficiencies in his martial arts would soon be redied.

“That is what I am most confident in.”

“Observation is an important ability. And you possess insight as well.”

“Haha.”

At Ban Hojin’s praise, Sama Uiseong laughed awkwardly.

Since Ban Hojin was not one to offer praise lightly, Sama Uiseong felt embarrassed.

“On that note, there is sothing I wish to ask. Do you have the intention of going to the battlefield?”

“The… battlefield?”

Sama Uiseong’s eyes widened.

The unexpected question had caught him off guard.

“Yes. To the battlefield. If you are not yet ntally prepared, you may remain here. I have no intention of forcing you.”

“So you have made your decision, Brother.”

“Only to the extent of going there. Whether to participate in the war or not—I will decide after seeing it myself. But we may end up fighting. And if that happens, you must protect your own life. No one can protect it for you on a battlefield.”

He spoke calmly, yet the aning within his words was imasurably heavy.

As a younger brother, Ban Hojin would certainly look out for him—but that did not guarantee survival.

On a battlefield, anything could happen. One had to be prepared.

“I will go. In the past, I would not have even gone near it, but now I am confident. At least confident enough to protect myself. And they say that crisis is opportunity. This ti, I will let the world know that I am alive.”

“If that is your will, then so be it.”

“If you are going, Brother, then I will go wherever you go.”

“Then I will go as well.”

It was unclear when they had been listening in, but Seo Jo-woon and Jeong Iryong approached.

As if to say they would follow Ban Hojin anywhere he went.

“Then all that remains is the Sect Leader’s decision.”

“I will go as well.”

“Thank you.”

“I was actually waiting for you to bring it up. I had a feeling Young Master Ban would go.”

Sang Il-gi, who had approached unnoticed, spoke with a faint smile.

At his words, everyone nodded.

From what they had seen of Ban Hojin, it was entirely in character.

“So I am that easy to read? An easy man lacks charm.”

“Your charm already overflows, Brother, so it is fine.”

“We travel light, but Uiseong will not. Prepare individually today, and let us depart early tomorrow morning. Sect Leader, is that acceptable?”

Ignoring Seo Jo-woon’s remark naturally, Ban Hojin concluded the discussion.

Though there was little to prepare, once one began gathering necessities, the load would inevitably grow.

Moreover, since Sama Uiseong would need to deploy formations, he had many items to bring. Ban Hojin deliberately allowed sufficient ti.

“That is fine with .”

“Then it is settled. We depart tomorrow morning.”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

At Sang Il-gi’s response, Ban Hojin finalized the ti.

As if waiting for it, Seo Jo-woon and Jeong Iryong answered in unison.

“Uiseong, if you need anything, tell . I can obtain most things, so do not worry.”

“He is even rich, after all.”

“Well, that is not wrong.”

Ban Hojin smirked at Seo Jo-woon’s remark.

He did not deny it.

He had no particular use for it, yet wealth had continued to accumulate. The fortune he had gathered thus far was considerable.

Far too much for a single individual to possess.

“For your information, I am rich too. And Brother Iryong is rich as well.”

“Will I be able to beco rich too?”

“You just need one big score this ti. Just like we did. I simply followed Brother around and ended up rich. And beca the Blazing Dragon as well.”

Seo Jo-woon grinned at Sama Uiseong.

As if to say he could beco the sa.

At that expression, Sama Uiseong’s face showed a trace of expectation.

Though Seo Jo-woon’s experiences and this war were different matters, one never knew.

“We are going to a battlefield. Do not fill his head with foolish dreams. Worry about surviving first.”

Ban Hojin spoke coldly to Seo Jo-woon, who was brimming with unnecessary confidence.

Though Seo Jo-woon had indeed shown dazzling growth, he was not yet fully tempered.

And the monster called war did not devour solely according to strength.