Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Novel - Chapter 462 (New)

Chapter 462: The Indolent Confrontation (2)

“Young Master Wei…”

“……”

“Young Master Wei, it is time for you to rise.”

Wei Yanho kept his eyelids pressed shut and exhaled a heavy, weary breath.

‘How much longer does this woman intend to linger here?’

Initially, he had entertained the idea that having an attendant to handle his chores might actually improve his quality of life and bolster his comfort. It was a grave miscalculation.

Wei Yanho had come to a stark realization: he was a fiercely private individual. To truly relish his own sluggishness, he required a sanctuary that was entirely his own and utterly undisturbed.

Yet, this woman trespassed into his personal domain as if the concept of boundaries didn’t exist, walking all over his peace and creating a disturbance without the slightest bit of tact.

Recognizing his error, Wei Yanho had attempted to gently coax Uil into leaving, but she had simply offered a soft smile and countered:

“Even wild animals understand the debt of gratitude. If I were to desert you now, I would be confessing that my character is lower than that of a beast. I have spent my life existing as one, and now I wish to try my hand at living as a human being.”

Never in his entire life had Wei Yanho encountered a refusal so resolute.

Moreover, the sheer intensity of her conviction had left him utterly without a retort.

Despite this, Wei Yanho clung to one shred of optimism: Wei Jeonghan.

In Wei Yanho’s eyes, his father was the ultimate meddler, someone who lived to disrupt his every move. Whenever he managed to secure a moment of tranquility, his dear father would materialize, practically foaming at the mouth in his haste to dismantle it.

There was no way Wei Jeonghan would permit his son the luxury of a personal assistant. He would undoubtedly find a way to intervene.

However…

‘Why is he tolerating this?’

He understood that rules occasionally had exceptions, but why did the exception have to manifest in this specific situation?

Defying all expectations, Wei Jeonghan didn’t drive Uil away. On the contrary, he appeared to take a genuine liking to her.

Watching his father affectionately pat Uil’s head, Wei Yanho couldn’t resist a biting remark: “He abandons his own flesh and blood to go on wandering trips, yet he’s the pinnacle of generosity with other people’s children.” The comment nearly earned him a physical reprimand.

‘Why does he choose this moment to be so charitable?!’

Naturally, from his father’s perspective, having a companion for Wei Yanho was likely preferable to leaving him to his own idle devices… but did it truly make sense to station a former spy from the Jegal Family right next to his son?

Ultimately, Wei Yanho had no choice but to accept Uil’s constant presence.

“You really must get up.”

“…And why is that?”

“The Sovereign of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance has made his arrival.”

“The Sovereign of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance?”

Now that she mentioned it, he did recall that such a personage was expected to arrive shortly.

Wei Yanho gave a dismissive wave of his hand.

“There’s no reason for me to go out there. I would just be an obstacle. Surely my father would prefer that I stayed out of the way, wouldn’t he?”

“Actually, he is heading this way.”

“What?”

Wei Yanho’s eyes snapped open.

What business did that man have here?

“Is he just passing by?”

“No. He is coming specifically to have an audience with you.”

“…The master of the Tang Clan is seeking me out?”

“He is accompanying the Sovereign.”

“Ugh…”

Wei Yanho clutched his forehead. He felt as though the entire universe was working in tandem to ruin his day.

He was obligated to greet him, of course. There was information he needed to glean.

But did it have to happen right this second?

Typically, high-ranking officials adhered to a strict set of protocols.

A figure of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance Leader’s stature would first deliberate with the head of the Tang Clan, followed by meetings with other dignitaries. Wei Yanho’s turn shouldn’t have come for at least several days.

Why was he bypassing the queue to come straight here?

“I heard he wasn’t exactly a standard individual…”

Not necessarily in terms of greatness, but in terms of being peculiar.

“You need to make yourself presentable immediately.”

“Forget about it.”

Wei Yanho let out a yawn and pushed himself into a sitting position. If the patriarch of the Tang Family and the head of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance were arriving together, there was no hiding. The least he could do was be conscious.

“Can you fetch me some water?”

“Young Master Wei, you really ought to bathe…”

“They won’t be looking for that much from me. I have no incentive to try and impress them.”

Uil opened her mouth to argue about basic social graces, but realized it was too late for a full wash. Instead, she offered the items she had already prepared.

“What’s this?”

“I anticipated this would happen, so I brought a damp cloth. At the very least, wipe the sleep from your face.”

“My thanks.”

Even though her nagging was a nuisance, he couldn’t simply ignore her thoughtfulness. He half-heartedly scrubbed his face with the towel and stood up with a groan.

‘It’s actually a good thing he’s coming in person.’

It was a bother, but it was vital. Better to get it over with quickly.

Wei Yanho threw on some clothes and stepped outside. It was a breach of etiquette to remain in his quarters while knowing a person of such importance was approaching.

“I’m becoming quite the gentleman.”

Wei Yanho let out a mocking chuckle.

In the past, he would have fought a losing battle with his bedsheets just to steal one more minute of sleep. He wasn’t sure if this was a sign of maturity or just a faster rate of resignation, but it felt like progress of a sort.

Stepping out, he spotted a group drawing near in the distance. Two figures were positioned at the front, leading the procession.

One was a man with a disheveled appearance whom he didn’t recognize, and the other was Tang Cheongun. His focus shifted immediately to the stranger.

‘Mmm…’

They called the man the “War Sword,” and the title was literal.

A sharp, piercing energy, much like a whetted blade, radiated from him.

‘He is cut from a different cloth than the Sword Sage or the Sword Saint.’

While they all shared a mastery of the blade, this man’s spirit was erratic and dangerous, like a fuse burning toward a barrel of gunpowder.

He looked as though he might draw his weapon and strike at a moment’s notice.

It was fascinating that a man of that temperament headed the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.

He was clearly skilled, but his personality seemed ill-suited for the role. He reminded Wei Yanho of a caged predator—strong enough to shatter the bars, yet choosing to remain.

‘One truly cannot judge a book by its cover.’

Wei Yanho observed Cheok Soogwang with genuine curiosity. He had never encountered anyone quite like him.

And the man’s next move was completely without precedent.

Paaah!

Wei Yanho’s head tilted slightly to the side. A razor-thin gust of wind whistled through the exact spot where his skull had been a second before.

“W-What in the world?!”

Jegal Yeom and Tang Cheongun stared in shock, looking back and forth between Wei Yanho and Cheok Soogwang. Cheok Soogwang had launched an attack without saying a single word.

If Wei Yanho hadn’t reacted, the consequences would have been dire.

“Ohhh.”

Cheok Soogwang looked genuinely intrigued, while Wei Yanho simply clicked his tongue.

“You’re quite fond of picking fights, aren’t you?”

“I don’t bother with just anyone.”

“I suppose I should take that as a compliment, though I find it rather unpleasant.”

“That is a positive sign. Fury is what hones the edge of a sword.”

“Mmm, I have to disagree. My teacher always insisted that the key is to remain composed, regardless of who you’re facing.”

“A valid point.”

Cheok Soogwang tilted his head, but his demeanor didn’t match his words.

“But human beings aren’t built that way. Do you honestly believe such a thing is possible?”

“I’m not sure if it’s possible for everyone, but I know it’s beyond me.”

“Precisely.”

Cheok Soogwang’s grin widened.

‘He is an idealist, yet grounded in reality.’

He found himself liking the boy. Most youths from prominent clans just parroted high-minded philosophy as if it were law, but this one grasped the nature of the world.

“Are you going to follow your master’s path blindly, even when you suspect it’s flawed?”

“It’s not so much about blind following, it’s more like…”

Wei Yanho gave a shrug.

“My mentor used to say that if you aim to draw a dragon, you might at least end up with an eel. But if you start out trying to draw an eel, you’ll likely finish with nothing but a worm.”

“There is wisdom in that. However…”

Ssshhhk.

Cheok Soogwang slowly pulled his blade from its sheath.

“This can’t be happening!”

Tang Cheongun was horrified.

‘What kind of lunatic is this?’

He had intended to take Wei Yanho down a peg, but this was crossing a line. If the news spread that the Sovereign of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance drew his sword against a mere junior upon their first meeting, what would happen to the Alliance’s reputation?

“Leader!”

“Stay out of this.”

“But—”

Cheok Soogwang raised his free hand to silence him.

“Martial artists communicate through their steel. I don’t know how to understand a person through mere conversation. If you truly wish to know your opponent, crossing blades is the only honest way.”

Wei Yanho responded with a deadpan expression.

“That’s a bit insulting to those who use different weapons or fight with their bare hands…”

“Then let them give their answer with their own tools.”

“You really don’t pick up on sarcasm, do you?”

Wei Yanho clicked his tongue.

He had no patience for people this rigid. Baek Muhan had a terrible temper, but he at least had a sense of humor. That was why Wei Yanho had appreciated him.

“Do you have the nerve to stand against my blade?”

“In the old days, I would have already been halfway down the road.”

Wei Yanho took a long stretch.

“But after traveling for a while, I’ve learned something important. There are some people who won’t listen no matter how much you talk, and sometimes the simplest solution is to just overwhelm them with force.”

“Overwhelm them with force…”

Cheok Soogwang let out a soft, low laugh.

“Do you realize who stands before you?”

“I do. The Sovereign of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.”

“That is merely a title—”

“Ah, enough of that.”

Wei Yanho waved his hand in irritation.

“For a man who spent his life on the front lines, you sure talk a lot. No matter what I say, you’ve already decided to fight. So words are useless. If we have to do this, let’s get it over with, and then we can talk.”

Cheok Soogwang stared at him intensely.

The warmth left his eyes.

“You are absolutely right. Today, I am the one being schooled by a junior. My power has made me prideful. In a duel, speech is secondary.”

Cheok Soogwang leveled his sword toward Wei Yanho.

“I have heard many tales about you. Some claim you are destined to be the greatest in the world. So, the man who could not be the greatest of his own era comes now to learn from the one who will be the greatest of the next.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

Without even a formal bow, both men unleashed their sharp, oppressive energies. The onlookers scrambled backward as a duel began without a moment’s warning.

Would you like me to describe the opening moves of the duel between Wei Yanho and Cheok Soogwang, or would you like a summary of how the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and Tang Clan might react to this sudden confrontation?