Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Novel - Chapter 464

**Chapter 464: The lazy Fight (4)**

It was strange.

There was no other way to describe that feeling.

Wei Yanho couldn’t define Cheok Soogwang at all, who stood before him emanating a peculiar energy.

What he had felt from the Sword Saint was the Righteous Path (*Jeongdo*).
The path of the sword traveled with righteousness. An impeccably pure sword path.

From the Tai Chi Sword Sage, he had perceived the Immortal Path (*Seondo*).
Unlike those who sought truth through the sword, these people aspired to reach the *Dao* through it, but with a sense of emptiness, as if the sword was not their essence.

From the Supreme Sovereign (*Gwon Geuk*), what emanated was the Path of Dominion (*Paedo*).
His fist conveyed an iron will to conquer and destroy everything in its path.

But this guy… what was he?

He was infinitely free. Sometimes he seemed serious, other times light, sometimes sharp, other times heavy.
It was as if multiple natures had merged into one. Something extremely peculiar and, furthermore…

—*Chaotic.*

Wei Yanho frowned.

It was unpleasant to some extent.

That deserved to be called *chaos*. A feeling of multiple energies mixed uncontrollably within a single person.

Wei Yanho understood then:

—*My master’s martial art was pure.*

Although it was difficult to classify due to its unique nature, he was now sure. His master’s martial arts were purity itself. The disgust he felt witnessing this disordered style was proof of it.

However…

—*There is some similarity in the background.*

Wasn’t that precisely the Infinity Sword?

To fuse all the sword techniques of the world into one. Cheok Soogwang’s martial style, with its scrambled energies, was not that different.

There was only one key difference:

The Infinity Sword sought to transcend by synthesizing all existing sword techniques into a single supreme sword. In contrast, Cheok Soogwang’s style had been formed through countless battles, absorbing fragments of his opponents’ martial arts.

A martial art created with a purpose versus another forged in the heat of combat.

The result was similar, but the process was different. And that made the difference.

—There’s no need to talk anymore. Here I go.

—Ah, one moment.

Wei Yanho raised a hand to stop Cheok Soogwang.

—You are older and more experienced, couldn’t you grant me three seconds of advantage or something?

—I don’t understand those things.

Cheok Soogwang stared at him.

—On the battlefield, three seconds are enough to die three times. I’m not that arrogant. No matter who my opponent is, I would never commit the stupidity of granting three seconds.

—Wow, that’s very practical.

His master also said that those who asked for three seconds should have their skulls broken before they finished. Would those who preach that “even a lion must strive when hunting a rabbit” grant three seconds to a rabbit wielding a sword?

That went beyond stupidity.

Confirming that his opponent was not a fool, Wei Yanho nodded.

—Then, one moment. Hey, *Black Ink*!

—Yes, I was expecting it.

As soon as Wei Yanho said “Black Ink”, Jegal Munin stepped forward and threw his sword to him.

*Clack!*

Wei Yanho caught the weapon and pursed his lips.

—*When will my sword be ready?*

He had sent it to be forged a long time ago, but it still hadn’t returned.

At this point, he could almost suspect that the old man had stolen it out of greed… although he doubted that was the case.

If he needed money, just manufacturing and selling a few weapons would earn him a fortune. But adjusting a sword forged by his master shouldn’t be easy. If anyone could manipulate it, his master wouldn’t have considered it his *beloved sword*. He was like that.

*Zuum!*

After brandishing the weapon a couple of times to adapt, Wei Yanho nodded.

—I’m ready.

—…Are you going to fight with that sword?

—Yes.

—Don’t you have your beloved sword?

—I have it, but it’s being repaired. Until it returns, I’ll have to use this as a temporary solution.

—Hmm.

—Don’t worry. I won’t make excuses.

—I wouldn’t listen to them.

Cheok Soogwang smiled mockingly.

On the battlefield there are no beloved swords. If you lose your sword, you take a spear; if there is no spear, you grab a stone. There are no excuses for losing because you don’t have your preferred weapon. Besides, how could a dead man give explanations?

—An interesting style of swordsmanship. Who is your master?

—Even if I tell you, you won’t… actually, maybe you do know him. But it’s better if you don’t.

—I’ll hear it through your sword.

At that instant, Cheok Soogwang accelerated like lightning and launched himself towards Wei Yanho.

He was so fast that he seemed to disappear from his position and reappear in front of Wei Yanho in the blink of an eye.

A blow.

With the momentum of his charge, Cheok Soogwang stabbed directly towards Wei Yanho’s chest. It was practical. Instead of aiming for a lethal point in a single blow, his intention was to stick his sword into any part of the body, even if it wasn’t a mortal attack.

Wei Yanho stepped back without blocking the blow.

—Huh?

But Cheok Soogwang was different from all the opponents he had faced before. He didn’t even try to recompose his posture and chased Wei Yanho without pause.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

Their swords clashed multiple times in the air. Wei Yanho’s face tightened slightly.

—*Does he look more like those from the Demon Cult?*

His way of attacking without worrying about his own body was similar to that of the members of the Demon Cult he had fought before. The difference was that, while they really neglected their defense, Cheok Soogwang pressed to block any counterattack, as if the attack was his best defense.

It was strange.

While defending, Wei Yanho understood something:

—*I have preconceptions.*

The sword should be free.

His master had always emphasized it. So great was his fear that Wei Yanho would be trapped in the framework of the Radiant Sword Style that he didn’t even teach it to him formally. He only told him to wield the sword freely.

But Wei Yanho was not free.

Like now.

Cheok Soogwang’s sword rose and struck towards his head.

Wei Yanho, as a matter of course, raised his sword to block.

But the problem was what followed. If a blow directed at the head was blocked, where would the sword go?

The usual thing was to withdraw it slightly and attack another point, or turn to cut the side.

None of his previous opponents had deviated much from this pattern.

But Cheok Soogwang was different.

*Griiiind!*

He pressed down.

With brute force. Just when Wei Yanho tensed his sword to resist, Cheok Soogwang’s strength disappeared.

—Ugh!

His reaction was a bit slow. Cheok Soogwang’s sword bounced as if it had been hit by a projectile, and using that momentum, it twisted in a wide motion to cut from below towards Wei Yanho’s groin.

—Between men, that hurts!

Wei Yanho jumped back to dodge, but Cheok Soogwang’s sword twisted like a venomous snake and chased him.

He had misinterpreted what it meant to be *practical*.

He had a vague idea: he thought that real combat was fast, agile, and brutal.

But it wasn’t like that.

Cheok Soogwang’s sword seemed to be alive.

That it had no form did not mean that it lacked technique. It meant that he could do anything at any moment. And now Wei Yanho understood how terrifying that was.

—*This is why my father hated him.*

His father had told him:

*”No one in the world wants to cross swords with Cheok Soogwang. Even in friendly duels, he never leaves his opponent unscathed. His cruel mentality is the first reason, and his strange sword style, which makes everyone run away, is the second.”*

But Wei Yanho believed that there was another reason why Cheok Soogwang was so unpleasant.

Those eyes.

That look, as if he were facing a mortal enemy, pressed him.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the concept of a duel. This man simply didn’t know how to restrain himself. No matter who he fought against, he always gave everything to bring down his opponent.

—*I must apologize.*

Wei Yanho pursed his lips.

He had faced countless masters. He had even lost before. But he had never felt this.

It was something he had only heard in stories.

*”In any battle, in any situation, give your best effort.”*

Advice that sounded good, but that no one followed.

And yet, there was someone who lived it.

*Sshhh!*

Finding a small space between the attacks, Wei Yanho thrust his sword with a serene look. The blade sank towards Cheok Soogwang’s face.

—*Here!*

There was no escape. Not even Cheok Soogwang could avoid stepping back. Then, Wei Yanho would take control of the battle…

At that moment, his eyes widened.

Cheok Soogwang, instead of dodging, came closer and, opening his mouth, bit the tip of the sword with his teeth.

*Crack!*

Blood spurted into the sky.

It was a wound. No doubt.

But the result was forceful: Wei Yanho’s sword was trapped between Cheok Soogwang’s teeth, motionless.

There was no time even to groan. Cheok Soogwang’s sword was already heading towards his neck. Wei Yanho pulled his weapon and twisted his body.

*Sshhhk!*

A chilling sound echoed. Wei Yanho managed to free his sword and jumped back. This time, Cheok Soogwang did not chase him.

*Paf!*

Upon landing, Wei Yanho dropped his sword slowly. Then, he raised his left hand and touched his neck.

It was hot.

Blood flowed from the wound, soaking his clothes. Wei Yanho pulled his hand away and looked at it: it was covered in blood.

A sharp pain pierced his neck.

When was the last time he had suffered such a wound?

One centimeter deeper, and Wei Yanho would no longer be in this world.

Of course, Cheok Soogwang didn’t come out unscathed either.

—Pfuah.

He spat blood, with the corner of his lips cut. Probably, even if his tongue had not been completely severed, he had a deep wound.

—I didn’t know you could escape there.

His pronunciation was a bit clumsy, but Wei Yanho was not in the mood to mock.

—*If my master saw this…*

He wouldn’t laugh. He would probably make the mountain fall with his fury.

—Idiot!

Wei Yanho closed his eyes for a moment.

Regaining his composure, he adjusted his sword and lowered his head.

—I’m sorry.

Cheok Soogwang clicked his tongue.

—What a loss. It would have been easier if you had continued to underestimate me. Now it will be more complicated. I should have killed you with one blow.

Wei Yanho did not answer, he only stared at him.

Underestimate him?

That was laughable.

How could he have underestimated Cheok Soogwang?

The constant praise of the people, calling him “the strongest future in the world,” had wrapped him in his own arrogance.

And he hadn’t even reached his master’s heels.

—Allow me to show you what I have learned.

—…Could we stop here? I think I’ve seen enough of your ability.

—I haven’t shown you everything yet.

Wei Yanho’s sword began to emit an intense glow.

—Now I will show it to you. Here I go.