Book 11 Chapter 15

The Chronicle of the New Martial World

- One Who Tries to Change History

"How long do I have to learn this?"

A small hand, severely scraped and bleeding, was visible.

"Until it becomes the easiest!"

As if prepared in advance, the answer flowed out.

"How do I swing a sword?"

"The fastest!"

The answer was simple and clear.

"How do I kill a person?"

Even though it wasn't something that could be answered easily, the answer came out far too easily.

"The simplest!"

That was the end of it.

And then, he said it again, as if summarizing. His tone was still dry and cold. His voice had the power to instill fear in people's hearts. A fear that could scatter a listener's heart into dust!

"The simplest, the fastest, and the easiest! You only need to remember this."

As he closed his eyes for a moment, past memories vividly came to mind. While lingering in fragmented past memories, the office door burst open and Chisa-han rushed in to report.

Frowning, he awoke from his thoughts.

"What is it?"

Judging by Chisa-han's stiff demeanor, it was clear that it was at least not good news.

"It's a failure."

The voice was devoid of any emotion. Chisa-han was so ashamed that he couldn't even lift his head.

"I, I'm sorry. I'm ashamed."

Chisa-han's waist folded at a right angle.

"What is the casualty situation of the deer?"

Chisa-han, who was asked the question, had to utter the words he dreaded most.

"Th, there are none."

For a moment, Chisa-han thought invisible sparks flew in the air. The tremor he felt could not be explained by anything else.

"Were they that strong? So strong that they were completely unharmed even after being attacked by Nokrimchongchae?"

In the voice asking the question, there was a hint of surprise, as if he had momentarily lost his composure. Chisa-han thought it would have been much easier to report if they had been that strong.

"No. They say they didn't engage head-on. There was an unexpected variable."

"A variable? Wasn't it the military strategist's duty to find and prevent that variable?"

Chisa-han felt as if a cold ice pick was piercing his heart. The Grand First Son's oppressive presence was immense. Chisa-han, barely suppressing his trembling heart, organized the contents of the written message and reported. The Grand First Son listened calmly, his eyes shining like a cold, still night lake. When Chisa-han finished his report, the Grand First Son muttered, as if he hadn't expected it.

"The son of the King of Nokrim…"

It was truly an unexpected variable. How could such a person be mixed in with the group from Cheonmu Academy?

"What will you do? We can't just let them go to Huasan unharmed, can we?"

But the Grand First Son remained silent, lost in thought. Chisa-han, watching the Grand First Son's expression, kept his mouth shut as if he were a dead rat. After a moment, the silence, which felt like an eternity, was broken.

"I don't feel like it, but I'll use the final method."

Finally, the Grand First Son's decision fell.

It was an expected outcome, as the stratagem of Borrowing a Knife to Kill (借刀殺人之計) had failed.

"Everything is already prepared. But some sacrifice will be unavoidable."

The Grand First Son nodded with satisfaction and said,

"We must bear it. According to the report, among this group, there is one of the Heavenly Five Swords and one of the Heavenly Five Great Swordsmen… Binggeom and Yeomdo, renowned heroes and masters of the martial world! How much can the Twelve Blood Demons endure against them with minimal losses?"

"That's true. Even if the Twelve Blood Demons are our secret force, it will be difficult to inflict fatal damage on them while piercing the protection of Binggeom and Yeomdo."

Thinking there was something behind Chisa-han's words, the Grand First Son asked,

"Knowing that, the fact that you are prepared means you have already devised a method?"

"I sought help. From the old ones!"

For a moment, the Grand First Son's body flinched.

"The old ones? Did you move them without my permission?"

"I, I'm sorry. It was all my unilateral decision. But I believed it was a necessary measure."

Suddenly, an eerie chill covered his entire body, and Chisa-han tensed up.

'Su, such pressure…'

Cold sweat trickled down his back. Chisa-han didn't even dare to look into the Grand First Son's piercing gaze.

"Hmm, unilateral decision…"

"I, I'm sorry. Please forgive me just once."

Chisa-han begged, dripping with cold sweat. The Grand First Son glanced at him briefly and continued,

"Not all unilateral actions are forgiven just because they are necessary. I dislike things that happen outside my sight very much."

He felt as if his heart was being pierced by countless ice picks. Under the immense pressure, Chisa-han couldn't even breathe properly.

"A unilateral decision is enough once. But a second time will never be welcome."

"I will remember, I will remember."

"Of course. You should remember! If you don't want to die a dog's death!"

The smile that flickered across his lips was unbearably chilling. It was a word that sent a shiver to the bone. Chisa-han could consider himself lucky to have seen the King of Hell's office today.

"Military Strategist, do you know why a stopped wheel doesn't roll?"

After a moment of thought, the Grand First Son spoke again. Chisa-han listened to his words with the utmost politeness. Although the outward appearance was respectful, every word the Grand First Son spoke put immense mental pressure on the listener. Even Chisa-han, who assisted him constantly, never quite got used to it. Therefore, he still felt a heart-clenching tension every time he heard the Grand First Son speak.

'What does he want to say?'

He couldn't guess his intentions at all. In such situations, it was best to listen quietly. If he rashly pretended to know and stepped forward, he could lose everything without gaining anything.

"I don't know."

Chisa-han replied, sweating coldly. For him, who was always in the position of having to advise his master, saying "I don't know" was a very dangerous answer.

"Of course, it's because it's stopped."

Chisa-han didn't bother to say that even a three-year-old child knew that. He didn't want to die without a trace for raising his voice. And he didn't have any descendants to perform ancestral rites for him yet.

"Do you know why the river has stopped?"

"I don't know."

"It's because it's blocked by a dam."

What was he trying to say? Chisa-han still couldn't even guess.

"This martial world is like a stopped carriage or a stagnant river. This giant carriage has been rolling for a hundred years relying on two pairs of old, rusty wheels: Heukcheonmeng, Jeongcheonmeng, Macheongak, and Cheonmu Academy. Without even thinking of replacing them with new wheels. Moreover, this river is completely blocked by old masters called 'previous generation experts.' They are obstructing the flow of new water."

This was the opposite of the general theory that the current bipolar system of the martial world brought peace. His thoughts were innovative and destructive.

"I want to burst that dam. Water exists to flow, not to stagnate. Stagnant water eventually rots. Although Macheongak and Cheonmu Academy were established to prevent a thousand calamities, they are merely frogs in a well. One cannot become strong beyond a certain limit with theoretical lessons alone. Without trials, people do not become strong. Such things are simply boring. Not only for me, but also for Him…"

At the mention of "Him," Chisa-han's body stiffened. "He" was a being whose mere existence could make him shrink.

"Take this."

The Grand First Son took a booklet from his embrace and threw it to Chisa-han. The booklet, flying through the air at a very slow speed, landed vertically on Chisa-han's hand. Chisa-han quickly examined the contents of the booklet.

"Th, this is?"

His eyes widened.

"Th, this is an empty booklet with nothing written in it!"

The booklet, which he expected to contain something immense, turned out to be a mere bundle of blank paper. Chisa-han felt somehow tricked. However, he didn't show his displeasure.

"What? Are you unhappy with a piece of white paper? Did you expect a legendary secret manual? A mystical manual that could make you the greatest master in the world with just one reading?"

"Ah, no. How could I harbor such unreasonable thoughts! Besides, such a thing wouldn't exist in the world. It's not a martial arts novel."

Chisa-han showed his specialty, a servile smile, all over his face.

"That book will be needed soon."

The Grand First Son's voice was full of conviction.

"My dull mind cannot comprehend what it is for. Please enlighten my foolish head."

Despite Chisa-han's plea, the Grand First Son gazed out at the vast blue sky outside the window. The boundless sky was sucked into his pupils.

His lips parted quietly, and he spoke each word clearly.

"The Chronicle of the New Martial World!"