NOTICE: Many of the novels have been removed because they might cause violations, which we were not aware of earlier.
#656
Taejonbirok Volume 27, Episode 6
Chapter 144: The Sluggard, Trembling (1)
Do you know what Kang Ho-in looks like to ordinary people?
Outlaw?
No, that's just an impression of the nature of the strong.
A thug?
Oh, of course there are things like that.
knight errant?
Well, are there still people these days who discuss cooperation? That's an overly romantic assessment.
Let me tell you.
The impression ordinary people have of Kang Ho-in is very simple: he's not human.
No, it's not a metaphor.
It's literally true. Ordinary civilians don't see Kang Ho-in as a human being. They simply see him as something else, from a different world.
You don't know what I'm talking about?
What do you think about ghosts?
Ghosts come from humans, yet no one considers them human. Because they're dead? No, that's not it. The reason humans don't consider ghosts human is because they're different from us and incomprehensible.
Flying, passing through walls. I can't help but fear a being that can do things I can't do.
That's exactly how the common people look at unmanned vehicles.
They look like humans, yet they break rocks with their bare hands and climb mountains. Even if they originated from the same human family, could they truly be considered one of their own?
I don't think so.
Because I can't understand it.
Fear, it seems, begins with misunderstanding. People tend to fear those they cannot understand and believe are different from themselves.
huh?
Why do you say this?
You probably won't understand what I'm saying. It's something you can't empathize with unless you've experienced it yourself.
No matter how much a person might understand another's perspective, it's only a matter of trying to understand. Ultimately, unless you've experienced it yourself, complete understanding is impossible.
however…….
I understand that.
I saw it.
I'm talking about a being that I can't understand no matter how much I think about it.
That shock will probably stay with me until the day I die.
Cheonma. Yes, it was Cheonma.
He was truly worthy of being called a heavenly demon.
In many ways, that is true.
* * *
Baek Gong-do quietly rubbed his forehead.
'This is boring.'
Now, before him stood a throng of figures from the Jeongmu Alliance. The hall was filled with leaders from numerous sects, ready for the meeting.
From Baek Gong-do's perspective, it must be a very uncomfortable position.
Until recently, Baekgeomseong had cornered and killed them. No matter how much they claimed it was for a greater cause, it couldn't have been easy for those who had been snarling and fighting until yesterday to suddenly change their expressions and exchange pleasantries.
Yet, the reason they must maintain this unnatural position is because even the Baekgeomseong requires time for maintenance and recharging. While the unmanned units possess superior resilience compared to ordinary soldiers, the fierce battles fought in succession have left everyone exhausted.
If we marched excessively with those who were already exhausted because the situation was dire, we wouldn't be able to properly fight the Demonic Cult. Therefore, a few days were absolutely necessary.
And it is the characteristic of leaders that they cannot devote those few days to complete rest.
The same boring meetings were repeated over and over again, with nothing more to come.
Even though I know this meeting is worthless, I can't afford to leave. Baekgeomseong and Jeongmu Alliance still don't fully trust each other. Therefore, even Grado, the lord of Baekgeomseong, must actively cooperate.
“You can’t divide the organization like that!”
"Baekgeomseong is too large to begin with. To coordinate with other sects, Baekgeomseong must be broken down into smaller pieces."
“If we divide the Baekgeomseong into one, who will give the order?”
“It would be better to let the Baekgeomseong be controlled by the Gwanghwigeomhyeop.”
“Can you trust the leadership of the above-mentioned group?”
“I’m better than you!”
"what?"
Baek Gong-do closed his eyes.
'This is a mess.'
Humans are always like this.
When a knife is put to their throat, they declare that they will join forces, but if there is even the slightest opening, they fight tooth and nail to gain even a little more profit.
'It must have been the same in the past.'
These people were able to slaughter the Ten Thousand Swords and Hundred Schools without a care in the world.
When I thought about it that way, I couldn't bear it any longer.
Baek Gong-do quietly rose from his seat. All eyes focused on him.
"I know this meeting is important, but I'm not fully healed, so I'll be stepping down. Please let me know when important matters are decided."
“Ahem.”
"Recovering from my injuries is the priority. Please take care of yourself, Lord Baekgeomseong."
“Yes, I guess so.”
Baekgongdo rose, but no one seemed to be particularly willing to dissuade him. From their perspective, Baekgongdo's continued presence was hardly a pleasant prospect.
——————
faqwiki.xyz
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
Because it's uncomfortable after all.
Baek Gong-do glanced at everyone in the room and then turned around.
'Pathetic.'
No one truly understands who they're dealing with or what situation they're in. Even if I told them, they wouldn't understand. With their lowly minds.
It's a strange thing.
No matter how much Wei Yanhu inherited the Mangeom Sword, it was the Central Plains that raised him to become the Wei Yanhu he is today, no matter what anyone says. But how could someone like Wei Yanhu emerge from such a dire environment?
'They say that lotus flowers bloom in the mud, but… … .'
Baek Gong-do quietly shook his head.
“Do you have the luxury of leaving your seat?”
Then he spoke quietly.
Then, a loud laugh was heard from behind.
“Haha, I’m going to be like that all day anyway, so what difference would it make if I were to leave?”
“I’m the only one…….”
The problem is that he is not the type of person to say that.
Baek Gong-do turned and looked at the person who had followed him. The new investigator was looking at him with a smile.
“And no matter how important the meeting is, it can’t be more important than the Lord of the White Sword.”
“It’s hard to hide my laughter when the world’s greatest detective, Jo Hyeon, says that.”
There was a lot of back and forth between the two.
Even though they were smiling, the delicate atmosphere didn't easily dissipate. How could it not? They may have joined hands because the situation was urgent, but until yesterday, they were at each other's throats.
The only silver lining is that Baek Gong-do hasn't been at the forefront of the action so far. If it were Baek Hoe-myeong instead of Baek Gong-do, the situation would have spiraled to the point of no return.
“Are you feeling well?”
“Do you look okay?”
“On the surface.”
Baek Gong-do smiled bitterly.
“All I can do is stand there.”
“……Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
"I wish it were a joke, but it's true. In fact, I consider myself brave just to be alive. If that guy hadn't intervened at the last minute, I'd probably be a sack of dust right now."
“Did you say it was a matter of circumstances?”
The new investigator tilted his head.
Wi Yeon-ho is not one to take matters into his own hands. Contrary to his lazy and reckless nature, once he begins to wield a sword, he never compromises.
It's actually easier to deal with him and pick out the living ones.
But did such a great man have the situation in his hands?
Baek Gong-do smiled bitterly as if he understood what the new investigator's expression meant.
"What can I do if that's the truth? Wi Yeon-ho clearly lost his strength at the last moment."
“Hmm.”
The new detective nodded.
'boy.'
The reason wouldn't be known until Wei Yanho himself spoke. But Shin Gi-su had an inkling.
If Baek Gong-do had lost his life at the hands of Wi Yeon-ho, the current situation would never have developed. While Baek Gong-do had already decided to follow the victor, who would heed the orders of the man who killed their leader and patriarch?
'You can think that far… … .'
I knew that Wei Yanhu had more guns than I thought, but it was so crazy that he thought about what would happen next in the middle of that crazy battle.
The new detective sighed softly.
'You're relying too much on one child.'
My head nods involuntarily.
“Your Majesty.”
As the new investigator's voice became lower, Baek Gong-do narrowed his eyes and looked at him.
“I have something to ask you.”
“Speak.”
“Have you already met the Demonic Cult, Lord?”
“…….”
“Can we deal with them?”
Baek Gong-do quietly looked at the new investigator and opened his mouth.
“What is the purpose of asking me such a thing?”
The new detective's expression hardened.
"Objectively speaking, we already have the power to deal with the Demonic Cult. We've gained the strength to avoid defeat. This is all thanks to the Lord's courage."
“…….”
“There is one thing I don’t understand….”
The new detective's face became serious.
"Why did the Lord of the Castle, who perfected the Baekgeomseong Fortress, join hands with the Demonic Cult? No matter how much I think about it, I can't understand it."
"soldier."
Baek Gong-do's voice lowered.
“Have you forgotten what the Central Plains did to the Ten Thousand Swords and Hundred Schools?”
“That’s why I don’t understand even more.”
“……Why?”
“The Lord I see is not the kind of person who would seek revenge by borrowing the power of others.”
“…….”
The new detective shook his head.
"If they wanted to destroy the Central Plains, there were many ways to do so. In the past, when the Demonic Cult was at its peak, a simple stab in the back would have easily succumbed to it. But now, I see no reason to ally with the Demonic Cult. Why, Your Lord?"
Baek Gong-do quietly raised his head and looked at the sky.
"soldier."
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“There are countless things in this world where ignorance is better than knowledge.”
“…….”
"This is the same thing. It's something you'll find out soon anyway, so knowing it first won't make any difference."
"one……."
“I’m sorry.”
Baek Gong-do shook his head.
I have so much to say. I have so much to say.
But nothing he says now is meaningful. It's something you can't understand unless you experience it firsthand. It's something beyond human expression.
"Soldier, there's only one thing I can say to you. What happens next is not up to us."
The new detective's face hardened.
Even Shin Gi-su knew that the future depended on Wi Yeon-ho. But Baekgeom Seong-ju wasn't the type to say such obvious things.
It means that there is something so huge that all the power they have gathered becomes meaningless.
'Is the Heavenly Horse really that strong?'
“How does it compare to the Great Hemp?”
Baek Gong-do shook his head.
“If I were the Great Demon Emperor of the past, I can bring victory in a thousand seconds.”
"……underneath?"
“Everything is useless before the Heavenly Horse.”
“…….”
“It’s just useless.”
The Baekgeomseongju turned his body and slowly walked away.
The eyes of the new detective looking at his back slowly sank.
'Can Wei Yanhu deal with him?'
It was something that even his head, which was supposed to contain the world, could not have imagined.