Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Chapter 592

#592

Taejonbirok Volume 24, Episode 17

Chapter 131: The Sluggard, Rescued (2)

I thought something was different.

Actually, that wasn't wrong. It was true that Wei Yanho had changed a little.

Didn't we talk about this earlier?

So, I had a fleeting, if you will, hope. Just as people can change, maybe Wei Yanhu can change too.

what?

Isn't that possible?

You're talking nonsense.

People don't change.

People often make that mistake. As people get older, they become more cautious and thoughtful, unlike when they were younger. People often think of that as maturity and well-roundedness.

Do you think that's because people have changed?

No, no.

People don't change. The fundamental nature of a person never changes. It may seem like they're changing, but that's not true. They just have more to lose.

Even within the same person, their attitudes can differ depending on whether they have something to lose or nothing to lose. Can we really say that a person is different?

That can't be.

Think about it. The idea that people become more mature as they age is a lie. People who used to kick a ball around when they were young and grab someone by the collar, now that they're older, they just throw the board at them while playing Go.

what?

All the old people you know are more serious than the young people?

You're talking nonsense.

Have children and grandchildren yourself. See if you can be as wild as you were when you were young. Imagine a seven-year-old child standing before you, eyes wide open. See if they can speak and act the way they do now.

And imagine you becoming the head of your own clan. Do you think that's possible?

I said I can't do it.

How much do you care about what other people think? Don't you know how much I was mindful of others' opinions when I was in the open ark? It's not just subordinates who pay attention to their superiors. Superiors also pay attention to those below them.

All people are like that.

It's not that things seem to have changed. They're just being cautious because they have more to lose. Those superficial appearances only limit people; their fundamentals never change.

But what about that guy?

huh?

Of course, I'm talking about Wei Yanho.

It's hard for other people to change, so you think he'll change? Absolutely not.

Others at least have a concept of "something to lose." Things like face, social status, prestige, you know.

But he doesn't have that.

Yeah, I said there isn't any.

No, why can't this guy understand what I'm saying! Wi Yeon-ho said there's no such thing!

Of course, that's exactly what you're saying. The Wei Yanhu when he emerged from the cave and the Wei Yanhu during the war were completely different in terms of status and prestige.

But that's just how others see Wei Yanho. If Wei Yanho himself doesn't care about that, then what's the point?

Wi Yeon-ho is a guy who has nothing to lose.

So it can't change.

Those with nothing to lose have no need to be cautious or change. What's the point of changing when things are comfortable right now?

what?

But why did you follow me?

Hey! This… … .

Was the situation back then something I could just walk away from, trying to survive? If I were worn out and exhausted now, and my neck were in danger, I'd probably be a rabbit, but back then, I had a sense of justice and a sense of negotiation.

What are those eyes?

Don't you close your eyes? I'll squeeze out all the ink.

Ahem!

Anyway, so… where did I leave off?

Yeah, I said that much.

Anyway, since it was a situation where there was no way out, everyone ended up following Wi Yeon-ho.

atmosphere?

What do you think it would have been like?

… …what do you think it would have been like?

* * *

“I’m going to die, really!”

Jang Il's mouth suddenly popped open. But it quickly returned to its original position.

It wasn't because my complaints had disappeared. It was because it was too difficult to just stick my mouth out and run.

“Whew! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

At some point, Jang-il realized.

'No, I feel like I'm going really fast right now.'

Jang Il had always been confident in his light-weight skills. But now, he was running at a speed that would have made his former self, a few months ago, gape in amazement.

And besides, you're talking while running at that speed.

'Well, if you think about it… … .'

I don't think I've walked in weeks. I've been running like crazy, over and over again. I even had a knife pierce my back while running.

If you run with all your might, and run again and again, and your speed doesn't increase, that's even stranger.

“Ugh.”

Increased lightness means increased strength. Lightness is ultimately a way to control the body and utilize energy. More efficient energy utilization means a dramatic increase in overall skill.

A person with fast lightness is not necessarily stronger than a person with slow lightness, but if a person's lightness becomes stronger than before, it means that their skill has improved.

Becoming stronger than anyone else was a joyous thing.

But Jang Il could not be purely happy.

'There is nothing to be happy about.'

If you get beaten to death and become more tough than before, can you be happy about that?

It is true that the speed of lightness has increased, but looking back on the process of achieving this result, it was a day with tears in my eyes.

And there is another reason why we cannot be happy.

Now they're jumping into a corner. No matter how fast their legs are, they're only hastening their death. So how can they be happy?

“Ugh.”

I keep hearing groaning sounds.

“Hey, that beggar has a lot of complaints.”

“Aren’t there a lot of complaints?”

A roar of anger burst from Jang Il's mouth.

“I just got back to Jungwon after all that hardship, and now I have to go through all that hardship again! Do you think I can say such nice things?”

“Since I’ve come to the Central Plains, I can’t avoid hardships.”

Hearing Wei Yanho's calm words, my clothes turned upside down.

Is what Wei Yanho said wrong?

No. It's because it's right that it turns your clothes inside out. There are few things more irritating than hearing someone hit you in the face.

“But that doesn’t mean we have to go.”

“We’re not the only ones going.”

“Ugh.”

The new investigation team did not trust Wi Yeon-ho.

To be precise, it was a mixture of trust and distrust. I trust his skills and the results he produces more than anyone else in the world, but I have the deepest distrust of the process and the people involved.

So, I couldn't leave the work entirely to Wei Yanho.

While the Wei Yanho clan is currently leading the way, the other clans will eventually follow suit. This meant that if the Wei Yanho clan failed to properly resolve the issue, they would risk their lives and deploy the other clans.

“You don’t seem like you would, but you always stick your head out when things are dangerous.”

“I wonder if it’ll be as big as a beggar’s head.”

“Kaaaak!”

If he had the strength, he would have rushed forward, but Jang Il didn't have the strength to even engage Wei Yanho. Just keeping up with Wei Yanho's speed was daunting.

'I know, I have a weird personality too.'

When things get tough, he can just let it go, but he keeps complaining and trying his best not to fall behind. It's something even Jang Il himself couldn't understand.

'Damn.'

Jang Il trembled at the contradictory emotions that dominated him.

When I think about it calmly, Wei Yanho is acting incredibly foolishly. While it's true that they need to be saved, it's not necessary for Wei Yanho to take on that role.

Even if it weren't for Wi Yeon-ho, there would be plenty of people willing to do it. Going to rescue them would mean risking a clash with Baekgeomseong. Why lead this small group on such a risky mission?

But on the contrary, I am grateful to Wi Yeon-ho.

Even at this very moment, beggars are dying. The lightness of openness is often touted as absolute, but that applies only to a small minority who have mastered the art of openness to its utmost.

With so many methods and so many things to consider, the general methods of opening are inferior to those of other sects. Therefore, their lightness is naturally slow.

Despite knowing this, Chiljishin-gae abandoned the Gaekdo and turned to the Jeongmu Alliance. It was clear that the longer they stalled, the more damage would increase exponentially.

'Damn.'

While discussing Wei Yanho's stupidity, we must also be thankful for that stupidity. What kind of nonsense is this?

“Yeonho.”

When Jang Il was in agony, Wi Jeong-han quietly called out to Wi Yeon-ho.

"yes."

“If this situation is the same as last time….”

"yes."

“There must be a reason, right?”

Wi Yeon-ho sighed and drooled.

“I’m not sure yet, but I have a guess.”

“…….”

"I'm not sure, so I'll keep my mouth shut. But I think even your father would have guessed by now."

“There are some things that are a bit of a hassle.”

There was worry in Wei Jeonghan's eyes.

"Don't look at me like that. I didn't do anything wrong. If so many people saw it and didn't notice, then there's no way I could have."

“That’s definitely true.”

Wi Jeong-han didn't ask any more questions.

He, too, is confused. If the Sword Emperor's Secret was the beginning of all this, Wei Yanhuo cannot escape responsibility. He must bear the full weight of the world's condemnation.

And perhaps Wei Yanhu himself could have collapsed under the burden. But how could that be Wei Yanhu's fault?

Even without Wi Yeon-ho, the Sword Emperor's Secret would have spread throughout the world. Baekgeomseong had aimed for this from the beginning, creating the Sword Emperor's Secret. Wi Yeon-ho merely mitigated the bloodshed that would have been shed in the process.

'Of course, I did save a fair amount of money.'

Just as Wi Jeong-han's mind was starting to get complicated, Wi Yeon-ho spoke in a firm voice.

“Even if I did something wrong!”

“…….”

“I paid it all off.”

Wi Jeong-han's face relaxed.

Now that I hear it, it's true. Even if Wei Yanhu brought about a crisis in the martial world, he has done even more for the martial world.

“If that doesn’t work, then I’ll just tell you to eat it whole.”

“That won’t happen.”

The righteous will make it so.

If the world condemns and curses Wi Yeon-ho, he will stand by his side and fight. That was Wi Jeong-han's duty as a father and a leader.

“I told you, that’s not important right now.”

"huh?"

“It’s not that the secret spread, it’s that someone created it.”

“Are you talking about Baekgeomseong?”

“They can’t do it. They can never make that.”

“You’re saying Baekgeomseong can’t make it?”

"yes."

Wi Yeon-ho was resolute.

"I can provide a starting point. The martial arts contained therein truly belong to the Master. Of course, it's only scratching the surface, but a watermelon is a watermelon after all. If it's a watermelon of the Master's caliber, even a cursory glance would be sweet."

“……That, that’s right.”

The analogy is a bit strange, though.

"But then, someone appeared who could hide his intentions behind that master's ignorance. To that extent… uh, what should I say?"

Wi Yeon-ho sighed as he ran.

"It doesn't really matter who you save. The moment that gentleman steps forward, everything will be sorted out."

“……Is that all?”

"It's not that there's no hope. There must be something, some reason why they can't step forward! I wish I could dig into that."

Wi Yeon-ho shook his head and pointed ahead.

"excuse me!"

“……!”

“Let’s go!”

The Wei Yanhus accelerated their pace.