Chapter 82. The Entire World is My Home (3)

Chapter 82. The Entire World is My Home (3)

Sensing the ferocious bloodlust threatening to kill him if he didn’t give the answer Do-Gun wanted, the servant nodded his head vehemently. Of course, he wanted to survive.

“Y-yes, that’s right. Her seal was stolen. It’s the truth!”

Do-Gun smirked inwardly as he looked back at Woo-Moon.

“You wicked bastard! Now we know who the thief who stole the seal was. How dare you steal my mother’s seal and create such a slanderous letter!”

This time, it wasn’t Woo-Moon who came forward to refute their rebuttal, but Gong-Su.

“Who would believe such a hastily made story! Besides, the handwriting on the letter is definitely Hye-Ryeong’s!” he shouted.

Do-Gun pointed the Emotionless Iron Sword at Gong-Su and spat, “Who the hell do you think you are?! I’m the patriarch! Do you dare to disobey my words?!”

Gong-Su deflated slightly at those words.

“W-well, that’s... But Hye-Ryeong became enraged and tried to kill me the second the letter was shown! Isn’t that an admission of her guilt?”

Despite Gong-Su’s polite rebuttal, Do-Gun still shook his head.

“No, that’s not it. My mother was just temporarily enraged by you falling for that bastard Woo-Moon’s deception, Elder.”

Gong-Su’s complexion turned red. Do-Gun was being completely unreasonable. He was making things up as he went along, turning the situation to his advantage.

Ju-Ryeong was pleased as she watched Do-Gun perform.

‘He’s better than I thought he would be.’

Of course, being completely unreasonable was ridiculous at times. Anyone could poke holes in Do-Gun’s argument if they just thought to themselves a little. However, no matter how clever a person was, anyone would be easily deceived when faced with such incredible and shocking news.

People only remembered the parts they wanted to. They adapted their memories to benefit themselves, even memories of things they had witnessed minutes before.

The members of the family wanted to believe Do-Gun, someone they had promoted to their new Patriarch, and Hye-Ryeong, who had ruled the Baek Family for a long time.

If Woo-Moon’s words really were true, could any of them really accept it?

Moreover, the fear of Hye-Ryeong and Ju-Ryeong had rooted itself in the Baek Family for a very long time, fueled by the overwhelming power and brutality of the two women.

They were too much for any of the Baek Family to dare fight against. Thus, the Baek Family members gradually began to convince themselves that Do-Gun’s ridiculous words were true.

“He’s right! There’s no way Hye-Ryeong would have done that.”

“Of course! How could my son betray the family?”

The parents of the thirty members of the Invincible Forged Squadron began to speak one after another. They couldn’t believe that their children had fallen for the tricks of Hye-Ryeong’s faction after rising to the ranks of the Invincible Forged Squadron only to betray the family and be buried.

Their children could never be traitors to the family.

Their family could never have been driven to their deaths for power!

It was clear! They had all died honorably in battle with the enemy!

They desperately wanted to believe what Do-Gun and Hye-Ryeong spouted.

But as they began to get riled up, Woo-Moon spoke again.

“YOU DARE?!”

Although it was nothing more than a short shout, the energy contained within was incredible. The shout echoed throughout the entire estate, shaking the eardrums of the gathered family.

Woo-Moon’s gaze was sharp as he looked at a warrior of the Invincible Forged Squadron, who was at the center of all of the chaos.

“What does the Iron Sword of the Iron Sword Baek Family represent?”

His words had a strong dignity that no one could easily overlook. It wasn’t a power that came from his status or cultivation, but from the type of person he was and the conviction he held.

So what was the meaning of the two words—Iron Sword?

The confused warrior responded, speaking clearly even in the midst of all the hysteria.

“First, cooperation. Second, to never forget the spirit of a warrior. To devote oneself to martial arts every day. Third, to follow the example of the rough but strong Iron Sword and not indulge in luxury or pleasure.”

Woo-Moon then turned to the Lion Fang Squadron Commander. He knew the commander was one of the family's most confused and shaken members.

“Lion Fang Squadron Commander. What do you think the Iron Sword Baek Family looks like right now?”

As he spoke, Woo-Moon pointed to a richly decorated garden and two towering pavilions that were visibly larger and more beautiful than the others.

The Lion Fang Squadron commander couldn’t answer and just bit his lip.

Woo-Moon started speaking once again, and this time, his voice was filled with the clear, pure qi of the Forbidden Divine Art.

“Isn’t that a fitting image of what the Baek Family has become? Since when has the Iron Sword Baek Family been tainted by gold? Where is the iron now?! WHERE IS THE SWORD?!”

Six hundred years ago, as a mere wanderer, Baek San had traveled the world like a whirlwind with nothing but the Iron Sword in his hands, becoming number one under heaven and establishing the Iron Sword Baek Family.

They all remembered his story once again as the entire Lion Fang Squadron drew their iron swords, bowed their heads, and shouted.

“We feel the Iron Sword Spirit!”

“Good! Then let’s go!”

The Lion Fang Squadron commander and the subordinates under his command stood next to the Ten Supreme Swords.

Witnessing the Lion Fang Squadron’s courage, the vice commander of the Invincible Forged Squadron, Baek So-Hoon, broke ranks alone and walked forward. Determined, he headed directly for Woo-Moon.

The entire way, his mind spun furiously.

No matter how great of a trap it may have been, there was no way that the Invincible Forged Squadron could have possibly been defeated by a measly Mount Qian Sect. He thought back to his dear junior brothers who had lost their lives so horribly and the thirty people whose faces were completely unrecognizable due to fire.

‘Yes. It was all strange. There was no way all of you would have died from an attack of flames. You bastards betrayed us all, pretending to be dead and leaving the scene under Hye-Ryeong’s orders, knowing our remaining brothers would die.’

Baek So-Hoon was truly the kind of person most suited to being an Iron Sword Warrior. As detached from power, luxury, and comfort as possible, he trained his martial skills harder than anyone else and worked diligently to keep the squadron cohesive. It was for that reason that he had no choice but to give up the position of commander to Baek Ja-Hoon not too long ago.

As Baek So-Hoon walked toward Woo-Moon, Baek Ja-Hoon, the new Commander of the Invincible Forged Squadron and a member of Hye-Ryeong’s faction, drew his sword.

“Stop right there, vice commander! You dare point your sword at the patriarch? Your betrayal is unforgivable, and I—aghh!”

Suddenly, someone kicked Baek Ja-Hoon from behind.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

Baek Ja-Hoon turned around in anger. However, as he did so, his expression crumpled as he watched the Invincible Forged Squadron warrior who had just kicked him kneel down on one knee toward Baek So-Hoon and hit the ground with his right fist.

Bang!

The skin on his fist split open and bled as the warrior did not use his qi to protect it. Even still, he looked at Baek So-Hoon with a clear gaze and shouted without any change to his expression.

“Invincible Forged Squadron Warrior Baek Geom-Gun requests Baek So-Hoon to be his Commander!”

Baek Geom-Gun was the youngest warrior of the Invincible Forged Squadron, the same age as Do-Gun. And as it turned out...his seniors did not lack that youthful spur, either.

Bang! Thud!

In unison, every other Invincible Forged Squadron Warrior did the same as Baek Geom-Gun, got down on one knee, and slammed their fists into the ground.

“The Baek Invincible Forged Squadron commander is Baek So-Hoon!”

Blood flowed from the fists of the warriors of the Invincible Forged Squadron, the Family’s strongest martial force! Their fighting spirit enveloped the entire estate with its tremendous majesty.

“You, you... you lunatics! What the hell do you think you’re doing?! All of you get up now!” shouted Baek Ja-Hoon with bloodlust in his eyes.

However, the Invincible Forged Squadron warriors all glared at him simultaneously and shouted in unison, “A bastard like you is not our commander! We follow Commander Baek So-Hoon!”

It was a terrifying aura of one hundred and fifty people being emitted simultaneously!

‘Y-you damned bastards,’ Baek Ja-Hoon thought to himself as the Squadron had already escaped his control. Frightened by their fighting spirit, he hesitated for a moment before subconsciously taking a step back. Having retreated without even realizing it, he then sneakily ducked behind Hye-Ryeong.

The Invincible Forged Squadron warriors coldly watched him flee before standing up and walking behind Baek So-Hoon.

Although he was quite moved by their display, Baek So-Hoon didn’t say a word. Rather, he silently continued forward until he reached Woo-Moon’s side.

That was exactly the type of person he was.

The Invincible Forged Squadron warriors stood together like unsheathed swords filled with a refined fighting spirit.

They were all enraged.

Of all of the members of the family, who felt the greatest guilt and agonized the most over the deaths of their comrades—their mothers and fathers, their brothers and sisters?

It was them!

Moreover, how shameful was it that the family’s strongest martial force had been defeated by the Mount Qian Sect? How could something like that happen even if they sent a single five-man platoon, let alone two entire squadrons?!

And this incredibly shameful thing had happened because their own comrades had betrayed them in order to appoint Do-Gun as the new patriarch!

Their rage was indescribable.

The actions of the Invincible Forged Squadron, the symbol of the Iron Sword Baek Family, had a great influence. Shortly after, the Ferocious Strike Battalion, as well as the Eagle Talon and Tiger Fang Squadrons also joined Woo-Moon and Ye-Ye’s side. They were also appalled by Hye-Ryeong and Ju-Ryeong’s plot.

At first, Woo-Moon had been forced to come forward alone and face everyone.

But now, the people were with him.

Woo-Moon bowed deeply toward Mu-Hoon.

“The defeat was not your fault, Patriarch. Thus, you should never have been forced to take responsibility for the failure of the expedition and resign from your position. Please give the order, Patriarch. Give the order to punish those who dared to deceive, attack, and betray their own blood!”