Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Chapter 695

#695

Taejonbirok Volume 28, Episode 20

Chapter 151: The Lazy Man, Observing (5)

The new detective took control of the situation before he could even come to his senses.

The situation was dire.

The fire was put out for the time being with the retreat of the Heavenly Horse, but the damage inflicted before the fire was extinguished was terrifying.

The volcano has completely disappeared.

If only the fire had left behind only bones, it might have been possible to restore it. No trace of the Hwasan faction remained. Hwasan had reverted to the state it had been in before the Hwasan faction took hold.

It was completely destroyed, leaving not a single cornerstone behind.

And that was a very small amount compared to the damage suffered by the Central Plains.

Most of the warriors from Shaanxi and Sichuan who climbed the volcano suffered serious injuries.

Those who were directly hit by the power of the Heavenly Horse were left with no bones to recover, and those who were swept away by the aftermath and fell off a steep cliff barely managed to survive.

The damage was severe.

“Recover the wounded! Now!”

The only saving grace was the arrival of the main force. Had the main force of the Jeongmu Alliance arrived even slightly later, there would have been no room to deal with the casualties.

The new investigator knew.

The damage is severe.

But the actual damage they suffered was more than what was visible.

“How could this happen…….”

"oh my god……."

Even those who arrived late and could not see the majesty of the Heavenly Horse with their own eyes were terrified by the traces it left behind.

Naturally, the fear of those who witnessed the Cheonma directly was beyond imagination.

“……Ah, the devil.”

“We’re going to die… We’re all going to die.”

Even those who were not seriously injured were completely consumed by fear.

‘It’s like this… … .’

The expression on Shin Gi-su's face darkened as he looked around the situation.

Physical wounds somehow heal.

A person with an arm cut off can learn to use a sword with the other arm, and even a person with a leg cut off can fight.

Anyone who has not suffered that much damage will eventually regain their original wit.

But a person whose mind is broken cannot do that.

Those who have grown weary of the Heavenly Demon's inaction will never attempt to confront it again. A locust that has survived a charge against a cart will charge back at the cart, but humans, unlike locusts, have thoughts.

What will those who witness such an overwhelming force, to which no matter what they do, it is of no help, rely on to fight?

'This is difficult.'

The bigger problem is that the fear is contagious.

In the Central Plains, Sichuan and Shaanxi are treated similarly to the frontier. To put it bluntly, without any formality, they are treated like country bumpkins. However, there's a certain perception that country bumpkins naturally follow.

Rough and brave.

Sacheondangga is like that, and Hwasan and Jongnam are like that.

Not to mention Qingcheng or Kunlun.

Even if they're inferior in skill, they're never inferior in evil and venom. Everyone watches them tremble in fear.

So it spreads.

Fear of the devil.

The myth of that inaction.

'Could it be that he retreated after seeing this far?'

No, that won't happen.

Cheonma doesn't need to do that. There's no reason for someone who tramples on ants to instill fear in them. After all, ants have no influence on him.

But coincidentally, the 'stepping back' that Cheonma had chosen was now strangling Jungwon.

The worst soldiers aren't the untrained rabble. They're the ones who, recognizing defeat, are demoralized and only contemplate flight.

Now, the new detective's eyes were seeing the falling fraud.

“Military officer.”

"hmm……."

When he turned his head, Wi Jeong-han was looking at him with serious eyes.

“Word is spreading. Shouldn’t we crack down on it?”

“……How can I stop you from talking?”

“One now…….”

The new detective sighed.

"I know, my dear. But words can't be stopped just by trying to stop them. What should I do? Should I behead anyone who mentions the Heavenly Demon? No, no. Trying to stop words just makes them spread. Then rumors will spread that even I, too, am afraid of the Heavenly Demon and won't even mention his name."

Wi Jeong-han's face hardened.

If that's what Shin Gi-su thought, then he was right. But the situation was becoming too dire to just watch.

Just because Cheonma retreated doesn't mean it was a draw. It was a crushing defeat, a defeat like no other. It may even have been the greatest defeat since the founding of the Central Plains.

“Military officer.”

"hmm……."

“If the Demonic Cult comes back again… can you stop it?”

The new detective kept his mouth shut.

Can you stop it?

The answer is already out there.

“It would be impossible.”

The Demonic Cult itself is not that big of a problem.

They too are an incredibly powerful force, but we've already confirmed that we can easily deal with them alone. The problem isn't the Demonic Cult, but the Thousand Horses.

'Are you saying that you can't stop just one?'

It was something that had already been fully anticipated, but the power of the Heavenly Horse that he had personally witnessed with his own two eyes was so great that it was difficult for the new investigator to even dare to estimate it.

The calculation doesn't work.

This was something that Shin Gi-su could neither understand nor accept.

He is a soldier after all.

A soldier is a calculating being, someone who seeks ways to defeat the enemy.

Of course, this isn't the first time Shin Gi-su has faced a formidable foe. His enemies have always been formidable, and dealing with them has been a daunting task.

But the difficulties were always real difficulties.

We know how much power we need to muster to defeat an opponent. However, gathering that much power is difficult. Defeating an opponent within the constraints of limited time and limited forces is a daunting task.

But dealing with the Heavenly Horse was not a problem of that level.

I don't know.

It is impossible to estimate how many people and how much power it would take to defeat the Heavenly Horse.

Incomprehensible.

From the perspective of a divine investigator, tasked with assessing and understanding his opponents, the Heavenly Demon was a truly incomprehensible entity. No amount of knowledge could define the Heavenly Demon.

In the end, it means that the Heavenly Horse is an opponent that the military investigator cannot possibly compete with.

furthermore…….

'It was fortunate that Cheonma blew everyone away.'

If the warriors of Sacheon and Shaanxi had stayed behind and listened to the conversation between Cheonma and Baekmuhan, morale would have plummeted to an incomparable level.

If the opponent is a heavenly horse, I can fight.

But, even knowing that the true identity of Cheonma is the Sword Emperor Baek Muhan, would he be able to stand up to Cheonma?

'It's heavy.'

It feels like my eyes are being crushed.

The new investigator sighed deeply.

'What should I do now?'

The crisis facing the world of martial arts was deeper and more severe than ever, yet there was no clear path forward. It felt like wandering in the darkness, unable to see even an inch ahead, searching for a path whose existence was uncertain.

"soldier."

The new detective turned his head at the sound of a voice calling him.

“Ah, Lord Baekgeomseong.”

Shin Gi-su, who saw Baekgongdo walking towards him, bowed his head respectfully.

Before this battle, even if the opponent was the lord of Baekgeomseong and the head of the Ten Thousand Swords Family, the Shingi Investigator would not have bowed his head.

Even if he is the Baekgeomseongju, there is no need to bow down to the new investigator because he is the acting leader of the Jeongmu Alliance.

But now it's different.

The new investigation witnessed the will and sacrifice of the Baekgeomseongju. Doesn't his empty sleeve prove it?

It was never shameful or humbling to bow to someone who had sacrificed everything for the sake of justice and righteousness.

“Are you feeling better?”

"it's okay."

Baekgeomseongju also bowed his head deeply toward the new investigator.

“I once again apologize for the sins committed by this family.”

"Don't do this. How could that be Baekga's fault? No one would have had any other option in that situation. On the contrary, I'm grateful that you stood up to that… that guy for the sake of the Central Plains."

I couldn't bring myself to say that word.

“Because that is the only way to wash away the sins we have committed.”

The new investigator looked at Baekgeomseongju with pitiful eyes.

Even if they knew the full story, there would still be those who criticized Baekgeomseong. Just because people see the same events and experience the same things doesn't mean they think the same.

But even those who criticize Baekgeomseong cannot deny that it suffered the most damage in this incident. In fact, it suffered damage worse than a volcano.

What Hwasan lost was only the sacred objects like the pavilion, but Baekgeomseong lost its saints, who were the core of the castle.

Even if the Central Plains could defeat Cheonma, it would be difficult for Baekgeomseong to regain its former glory.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes, military.”

“What should I do?”

Baek Gong-do smiled lightly.

"It's strange that you're asking me that. Shouldn't that be something I should be asking you?"

“Yes, of course it is, but…….”

A soft sigh escaped the detective's lips.

"This time, I have absolutely no idea. How on earth am I supposed to deal with him?"

“It’s difficult. It’s incredibly difficult.”

Baek Gong-do raised his head.

Who knows better than he how terrifying a being the Heavenly Horse is?

He also knew very well why the new investigation was so frustrating.

“One military.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It is true that the Heavenly Demon is feared, but isn’t the Sword Emperor no less powerful than the Heavenly Demon?”

“That goes without saying.”

In the first place, the two are one person.

"So, all we have to do is believe the Emperor's words. If the Emperor says so, then so be it."

“What is that…….”

“It’s that kid.”

The new detective turned his head.

The sight of Wi Yeon-ho, frowning arrogantly, walking towards them over the steep hill caught Shin Gi-su's eye.

“It’s that kid again in the end.”

"This child was arranged by the Emperor. With our limited minds, we mere mortals have no way of knowing what he was thinking. We can only believe it."

“I believe…….”

"Yes. I have no choice but to believe that child will stop the Heavenly Demon. He said so."

The new detective also nodded quietly.

He can't handle the heavenly horse.

There is no way for him, who lives within reason, to deal with a being that is beyond the realm of understanding.

In the end, only the incomprehensible could deal with the incomprehensible.

And Wei Yanhu is also someone he cannot predict.

'In the end, everything will end with a fight between the two.'

The new detective sighed softly.

Now the fate of the world truly rests in Wei Yanhu's hands.

The disciple of the Sword Emperor.

And the descendants of the Wei family.

I'm talking to the Gwanghwi Sword Master, Wei Yanho.

“Time is running out. The Heavenly Horse will definitely return.”

“I guess so.”

"In that short time, we must do everything we can. Be prepared, soldiers. We will have to risk everything."

“I am prepared.”

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Shin Gi-su's lips.

It's strange.

Even though my heart was so heavy, I couldn't help but smile when I saw Wei Yanho.

'That's why I don't know if that child can fight against the Heavenly Demon.'

To face darkness is light, to face despair is hope.

Now, the only hope left for them is the name of Wei Yanhu.

It's a very faint hope, but that's what hope is all about.

That small hope will eventually light up the whole world.

The new investigator desperately hoped and hoped that it would be so.