Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Chapter 501

#501

Taejonbirok Volume 21, Episode 1

Chapter 113: The Lazy Man Cries Out (1)

“Did you say it was a natural sword?”

“It was the end. But it was definitely a realm that could be called a natural sword.”

“A natural sword? Isn’t that something that only appears in legends?”

“That’s right.”

Gwanggu Shingae burst into laughter at Saga's question.

"I'm sure I'll be asked some very strange questions. Were there even one or two legendary things from that era?"

“…….”

"It was a different time than now, you know. Back then, what should I say? Even if I woke up and saw a dragon barking for food in the yard, I felt like I could accept it calmly. If I closed my eyes and opened them again, the Demonic Cult would appear, the Mangeombaekga would appear, and someone like Wi Yeon-ho would beg for food… Anyway, what's so surprising about that?"

Saga said with a trembling face.

"I also studied martial arts, so I think I have some knowledge of martial arts. But natural swords? It's so out of the blue…"

“Don’t think based on the present.”

Gwanggu Shingae's voice was firm.

"They say martial arts develop over time. That's true. But just because martial arts advance further in the future doesn't mean today's martial artists are stronger than those of the past."

“Why is that?”

“Even if one’s knowledge advances, whether one can reach the end depends on the individual.”

"ah……."

The Gwanggu Shingae laughed humorously.

"Nowadays, wherever I go, I hear the nickname 'Cheonhajeilkwae' (the best in the world). Thanks to that, I never run out of food to beg for, but it's also a bit embarrassing. If I were to go back now, I'd be treated like a useless old beggar, not to mention 'Cheonhajeilkwae' (the best in the world). There were plenty of people faster than me back then."

“……Is there really that much of a difference?”

"It's not that now is strange, it's that back then was strange. Those were truly absurd times."

“Hmm.”

Saga muttered, as if he had difficulty understanding.

“And your standards are a little strange too.”

"yes?"

"Cheonryu Geom could be called the second-strongest of the Ten Thousand Swords. Of course, if you were to ask if he was the second-strongest of the Ten Thousand Swords, I'd say no. But his status and authority were more than enough to warrant being called second-strong. What's so strange about someone like him wielding a natural sword? He's the Ten Thousand Swords."

“That’s right.”

Saga had no choice but to admit it.

It feels a bit odd to think of them as real-life figures, but looking back, the name "Mangeom Baekga" itself is a myth. What's so strange about these mythical figures wielding natural swords?

“What’s strange is not the Cheonryu Sword, but that Wiyeonho guy.”

"surely."

"A young man was facing the natural sword that the second-in-command of the Ten Thousand Swordsmen had dedicated his entire life to achieving. Even now, thinking about it makes me dumbfounded."

“It must have been a huge shock at the time.”

"Actually, it wasn't really like that. Thinking about it makes me cringe, but when I see it with my own eyes, I just… kind of accept it. Isn't that the way people are?"

“Yes, that’s right.”

Saga sighed deeply.

Suddenly, I remembered the era he was listening to. A time of unprecedented chaos in martial arts history. I momentarily forgot I was listening to a story from that era.

“So what happened? How did the Thousand-Ryu Sword get out?”

"The results of the match haven't even been announced yet, so how can you ask how the Thousand-Ryu Sword slipped out? Isn't that getting ahead of yourself?"

"Isn't it obvious? The Heavenly Sword reappeared in history, and there's no way the Gwanghwimujon would have been defeated there, so the outcome is self-evident. However, what I don't understand is… why did the Heavenly Sword survive there?"

“Why don’t you understand that?”

"The Gwanghwimujeon seems a bit foolish, but when necessary, he can be almost too cold-hearted. Looking back, of all those who have faced the Gwanghwimujeon, those who were truly worthy of being his enemies were defeated and lost their lives."

"yes."

"If we infer from the personality and actions of the Gwanghwimujeon, it's unlikely he would have considered them his close friends just because they were called the Ten Thousand Swords and Hundred Schools. Rather, he would have treated them with even greater coldness."

“That’s right. You’re quite smart.”

"But how did you survive? Was the Thousand-Ryu Sword that strong?"

“The Cheonryu Sword was strong. But Wei Yanhu was even stronger.”

“Then, did the Sacheondangga fail to stop the Baekgeomseong warriors?”

"Even if the Tang family lost momentum, they weren't that incompetent. They were able to buy enough time for Wei Yanhu to finish off the Thousand-Ryu Sword."

“Then the answer is one of two.”

Saga said firmly.

“Either the Gwanghwimujon was moved by emotion and saved Cheonryu Geom, or someone came to help Cheonryu Geom.”

Gwanggu Shin-gae didn't answer and just brought the bottle to his lips.

"The Gwanghwimujeon is not a man driven by emotion. Even if his master was a master of the Ten Thousand Swords and Hundred Schools, that was already three hundred years ago. If he can bestow mercy on the mere name of the Master, he should be able to bestow mercy on everyone in the world. Then, he must have had the assistance of someone else."

“That’s right.”

“Who are you?”

Gwanggu Shingae took another sip of his drink.

“Shin-gae, I have heard enough. What you have to say is….”

“Don’t rush me.”

Saga closed his mouth.

Gwanggu Shingae's voice was imbued with an irresistible power. No, not power, but emotion. The mere tinge of emotion in his voice was enough to make the listener's heart ache.

"I'm not just being lazy. I'm just saying this because even mentioning it makes me feel uneasy. From now on. It's been too long. The whole story starts from here. Yes, it existed to tell the story from here on."

Bitterness, and sadness, but also bewilderment and anger.

It was a strange feeling.

‘What on earth happened… … .’

It's been a long time. But what exactly happened back then that makes me feel such a strong sense of emotion about that long-ago event?

After sipping his drink for a while, Gwanggu Shingae opened his mouth.

“I told you so.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The reason the history of this era has not been properly passed down to future generations is because the eccentric Wei Yanho could not be conveyed as he was.”

“Yes, you did.”

"That's true. But that's not the whole story. Actually, there's another, much bigger reason."

Gwanggu Shingae, or Jang Il, spoke with a face full of regret.

"Those qualified to tell the truth have all died or turned their backs on the martial world. Those unqualified to tell the truth closed their eyes and buried it in the ground. So it could not be passed on. Those who knew did not speak, and those who did not know had nothing to say."

“…….”

"Still, history had to be passed down. That's why those who didn't know began to spread it to the world. That in that era, there was a man named Gwanghwimujon who saved the world. Hehehehe."

There was a sense of futility in Gwanggu Shingae's laughter.

"Yes, I must speak. Before I die. Someone must know the truth. The truth buried by those who know, the truth hidden by sinners."

“What the heck…….”

“Listen.”

The Gwanggu Shingae straightened its back.

The Ark of Openness.

The one who ascended to that high position slowly opened his mouth.

“If you can handle this truth.”

* * *

'What happened?'

Wi Jeong-han had no idea what was going on.

He is known as the "Jeonghyeop Sword" and is recognized throughout the world. He is confident that he has accumulated martial arts skills worthy of the name "Jeonghyeop Soo."

But even such a mighty man could not keep up with this battle.

Even though I was clearly watching with those two eyes, I had no idea what was happening.

He is also a prosecutor.

Even though it was a battle between swordsmen he couldn't dare face on his own, he couldn't help but see what was happening. At least, that was until now.

But now, even though his eyes were open, he felt blind.

Same inspection.

He's a swordsman, wielding a sword, but the two people before him are far beyond his comprehension. He can't even grasp what's happening.

It was easier to understand when a fierce battle broke out that could not be seen with the eyes.

'Is it over?'

Two men stood facing each other with their swords drawn.

The taut tension and the murderous glare that made them look like they were going to kill each other were no longer felt.

A little emptiness, and… … .

“Now that I think about it, I understand. Was that really Man-geom?”

Cheonryu Sword spoke in a small voice.

Wi Yeon-ho also nodded.

“Yes, it’s Mangeom. Originally, you should have been pursuing it.”

"I see what you mean. Yes, it was the Mangeom. Is this the Mangeom your teacher taught you?"

"no."

Wi Yeon-ho shook his head.

"Master wanted me to follow my own path. There are countless swords and countless methods in the world. As long as you reach your goal, it doesn't matter which path you take. That was Master's way."

“…….”

Wi Yeon-ho looked at the Cheonryu Sword with sunken eyes.

"The Ten Thousand Swords are a concept, not a method. As long as they can contain it, the shape of the vessel is fine. My master didn't want me to be obsessed with the final product, the Ten Thousand Swords. He wanted me to transcend even the Ten Thousand Swords."

"her……."

The Cheonryu Sword let out a sigh.

'It surpasses ten thousand swords… …'

It was something he had never even considered. Ever since he took up the sword, everything he had been doing had been dedicated to achieving the Ten Thousand Swords. Not once had he thought about surpassing them.

For him, the sword was the ten thousand swords, and the ten thousand swords were the end of the swords.

“I see, what made you so anxious?”

A faint smile appeared on Cheonryu Geom's lips.

“The bowls are different, the bowls are different.”

It was a word that contained a little bit of regret.

"Didn't you say there are many paths? Couldn't the path we walk be another path?"

"Just because there are many paths to a goal doesn't mean all paths in the world lead to it. Someone who should be climbing a mountain ends up descending, but that can't be considered a path either. The Man-geom contains everything. That, in other words, is…"

Wi Yeon-ho's voice became a little bitter.

"It means you must walk alone, without relying on anyone's strength. The moment you fail to overcome and instead rely on the strength of others, even the help of an unjust person, you will never be able to overcome the wall again. That is not the path to the Manggeom."

“I see.”

Cheonryu Sword nodded.

That may be true. And it may be wrong.

There are countless logics in the world. It's human work to prove them correct.

If there is anything I regret… … .

“I wish I could have watched to see if your path was right, or if your brother’s path was right.”

The point is that he can no longer watch who is right.

Choaaaak.

A sound like a leather drum being cut rang out.

At the same time, the chest of the Cheonryu Sword split open and a fountain of blood spurted into the sky.

“……It’s really a shame, really.”

The body of the Cheonryu Sword slowly collapsed to the floor.