Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Chapter 551

#551

Taejonbirok Volume 23, Episode 1

Chapter 123: The Lazy Jumps In (1)

I don't know how to explain it.

Well, okay. I guess we can start here.

Why do you think wars happen?

Yes, that's the reason. That's why wars are fought.

Most wars are fought for profit. How many people would start a war that would harm them?

Although it's often disguised as such, the truth is that most wars are fought over vested interests. It could be money, food, or even power. The point is, wars begin when there's something to be gained.

But that's not always the case.

Sometimes wars are fought even when we know there's nothing to be gained from them. And the cause of these futile wars is usually resentment.

This is scary.

Do you understand how terrifying it is to wage war knowing that there is nothing to be gained and nothing left but sacrifice?

Such people don't even care about their own lives. They'll do anything to quench their burning, almost melting resentment.

That was the nature of the war that was sweeping through the Central Plains at that time.

So, it couldn't be calculated.

Those seeking profit can predict what they will do. They will move in the direction that will maximize their profits, so you can predict it.

But those who are driven by resentment are unpredictable.

It's impossible for a person to read another's mind. That's why neither the leader of the Kwon Geuk clan nor the Shin Gi-su military could know what Baekgeomseong would do.

huh?

So what did you do?

I had no choice but to do whatever I could.

Is that okay?

It didn't work out. It was a war that should have been completely wiped out. But there was one reason we were able to endure it.

What is it?

What are you talking about? We had it too. Something they could never have predicted. Throughout the history of war, there hasn't been a variable of such magnitude, has there?

That was their misfortune.

* * *

Kwon Geuk quietly looked at the army before him.

The sight of the endless rows of warriors in pure white robes was putting a tremendous pressure on even Kwon Geuk.

‘It’s a white sword… … .’

A pure white sword.

'It must be clean.'

Unlike themselves.

The fact that they came here wearing a spotless white robe made me think they knew what meaning they placed on the color white.

Unlike the ugly Central Plains factions, they are completely white.

Yes, that was a warning and a complaint to the Central Plains.

'one…….'

Kwon Geuk looked at the Baekgeomseong warriors with a stern face.

'What will be done with the blood shed in Zhejiang?'

The white clothes have already been dyed red. No matter how much you wash and wipe, the scent of blood cannot be hidden. The justice they claim has already vanished.

All that remains is resentment.

In the shackles of resentment and hatred, all that remains is to hate each other.

“Your Majesty.”

Kwon Geuk turned his head and looked at Song Hyeon. Song Hyeon opened his mouth with a stern expression.

“Is there really any need to talk to them?”

This is said with concern for confrontation.

As this standoff continues, someone will step forward and initiate dialogue. And that dialogue will…

Kwon Geuk's gaze passed Song Hyeon and turned to the area behind him.

People are flocking in.

'You are like fools.'

There are many reasons. Some may want to witness this historic clash between Baekgeomseong and Jeongmu Alliance with their own eyes, while others may want to know the definitive direction of the war.

If the opponent that Jeongmu Alliance was facing now was the Demonic Cult, no one would dare come near this place. However, since it was a fight between Jeongmu Alliance and Baekgeomseong, the belief that no matter what the outcome would be, the civilians would not be harmed would have also pushed them to take action.

A subtle discomfort was stimulating Kwon Geuk.

I can tolerate the discomfort. But what truly makes the extremity unbearable is the fact that their presence is now a huge burden to the political alliance.

Song Hyun's concerns are similar.

If Baekgeomseong opens his mouth here, the Jeongmu Alliance will lose its justification.

'Do you know what that means and why you're doing this, Baekgeomseong?'

Kwon Geuk's eyes narrowed.

“Amitabha.”

The Great Master Kongmu, who arrived in the morning leading the Shaolin monks, put his hands together and said:

“Your Majesty, there is no use wasting time.”

Kwon Geuk ended up laughing.

To them, he was a secular being. The disciples of Taoism and Buddhism, who should have avoided war and reduced the bloodshed, were now forcing him into war.

Isn't that funny?

'What does saving face mean?'

It was the moment when Kwon Geuk clenched his fist.

The Baekgeomseong army, lined up so tightly that not even a single needle could fit through, slowly split left and right. And on the path created between them, a single person slowly walked forward.

The gaze of the sage followed him.

'who?'

be young.

A young man, too young to represent Baekgeomseong, was now stepping forward. Judging by his age, Kwon Geuk could guess who it was.

'Baek Hoe-myeong.'

The youngest son of Baekgeomseong.

A young man who is leading the affairs of Baekgeomseong Fortress in place of the Baekgeomseong Lord who has retired from the front lines.

He stepped forward.

"this……."

Song Hyun looked at Baek Hoe-myeong, who was walking out with a look of defeat on his face. With the enemy out there, he couldn't unilaterally order an attack. He'd missed his chance.

But Kwon Geuk stepped forward with a satisfied expression.

“It looks like you’re calling. I’ll be back.”

“Your Majesty, how can you possibly confront this author directly? It is not fitting.”

“What is the rank?”

Kwon Geuk stepped forward, waving his hand.

'Those who don't even know shame.'

True shame isn't about sinning. It's about sinning and failing to reflect on it. If you're so eager to hide not only your own sins but also those of your ancestors, how can you possibly hold your head high under heaven?

You have to accept everything.

Kwon Geuk and Baek Hoe-myeong stood facing each other at a distance of three feet.

Considering the power and status known in the martial arts world, there's no way Baek Hoe-myung could possibly face Kwon Geuk. However, observing the two, Baek Hoe-myung actually seemed more at ease than Kwon Geuk.

“I meet you, my lord.”

Baek Hoe-myeong quietly extended his hand and offered a winning ticket. Kwon Geuk also offered a winning ticket, and Baek Hoe-myeong accepted the greeting.

“I have often heard of the fame of Soseongju.”

“It’s just a small vanity.”

"I heard that Lord Soseong is a talented individual who can lead and develop Baekgeomseong for the next several decades. However, he is still only Soseongseong. It is regrettable that Lord Soseongseong does not personally step forward to lead this many people. Didn't Lord Baekgeomseong join the army?"

“The Lord has not come.”

Kwon Geuk's eyes twitched.

“Why is that?”

“How could I possibly fathom his profound meaning? Even to guess is blasphemous.”

“Isn’t Baekgeomseongju your father?”

"They say we're related by blood… but I'm the Lord of Baekgeomseong, and he's the Lord. There's no one in Baekgeomseong so foolish as to forget their position just because of a small blood relationship."

“What a wise answer.”

Kwon Geuk looked at Baek Hoe-myeong quietly and said.

“Then, can I consider you to represent Baekgeomseong now?”

"no."

Kwon Geuk frowned at the firm answer.

"then?"

"I'm not Baekgeomseong. I'm here now not as the minor lord of Baekgeomseong, but as the minor lord of the Mangeombaekga. The name Baekgeomseong is merely a facade. We are the Mangeombaekga. I'll give you the answer you want. Every word I speak represents the will of the Mangeombaekga. Did that answer your question?"

“There are ten thousand swords and a hundred swords…….”

Baek Hoe-myeong's words, filled with inner strength, were spreading throughout the world. Even those watching from afar must have heard them clearly.

'What do you care about?'

Even though he thought he should accept it calmly, he kept looking back at it, so it seemed like his cultivation was still shallow.

“Then I ask you, the Mangeombaekga. Are you truly willing to shed blood?”

“Did you say blood?”

"exactly."

“Who made you bleed first?”

“It’s in the past.”

“Who decides what is in the past?”

“Sogaju.”

The chorus roared loudly.

"I know you've been wronged. But that happened three hundred years ago. Isn't it too much to drag that issue back to the present and drown the martial world in blood?"

"charge?"

Baek Hoe-myeong's face turned cold.

“Did you say it was excessive?”

Kwon Geuk sighed deeply.

It's funny.

Kwon Geuk is the perpetrator. Even if he didn't commit the crime with his own hands, he cannot escape responsibility, having enjoyed the blessings of a world created by the sins of his ancestors.

And these were the victims.

The perpetrator is arguing with the victim about the abuse. If he had seen this behavior anywhere else, Kwon Geuk would have spat and cursed.

But there's nothing I can do about it now.

"If you want an apology, I will. If you want compensation, I will. If it means reversing this twisted fate… Jeongmu Alliance will do anything. So change your mind now. If you join hands with that Demonic Cult and plot to conquer the world, no matter what the reason, history will remember you as sinners. Do you wish for the brilliant legend of Mangeom to be marred by your actions?"

Baek Hoe-myeong smiled brightly.

“I have heard the logic of the traitors.”

“……Sogaju.”

“But that's not dare to put you in your mouth. You're not blinded by your fear and you don't have to say that you have a knife on your back. Isn't it a good thing for you to dry the blood of the white family?

Baek Hoe-myeong's body trembled.

"You're talking so well. You're talking so well with that big mouth! The Central Plains? What's the history of the Central Plains like? Have you forgotten what the Central Plains did to us? Do you think we consider ourselves Central Plains people? Do you think we'd be afraid of a history written by those arrogant traitors at will? Forget? Forget our grudges?"

Baek Hoe-myeong's voice calmed down.

“Bring the dead before me.”

“…….”

“Three thousand. The bloodlines of a hundred families, and the diners of a hundred families… All of them combined, they numbered three thousand. Those three thousand died overnight, at your hands. Three thousand died to save just one. Now tell me. Those lives! How can you possibly compensate for these lives, so precious that they were lost?”

Baek Hoe-myeong shouted with bloodshot eyes.

"Not three thousand, but thirty thousand, three hundred thousand! Even if three million die, the wrath of the Ten Thousand Swords will not subside, not until you are all burned to death!"

The head of the pole turned towards the sky.

Why did you do that?

What should I do?

In the end, everything comes back.

The negotiations broke down.

So decisively.