Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Novel - Chapter 501

## Chapter 501 The Lazy Man Shouts (1)

“Did you say ‘natural sword’?”

“It was just a glimpse. But it could definitely be considered that state.”

“Natural sword? Isn’t that a level that only appears in legends?”

“Wow.”

Gwanggu Shingae burst into laughter at the historian’s question.

“What peculiar questions you ask me. In those times, didn’t things that were only mentioned in legends appear?”

“……”

“It was a different era from today. Back then… how to put it? It was like you could wake up and find a dragon in your yard asking for food without batting an eye. You closed your eyes and the Demon Cult appeared, the Great Family of the Infinity Sword emerged, guys like Wei Yanho whining for food… Anyway, with that, what can surprise you?”

Saha, the Historian, wore an uncomfortable expression.

“I have studied martial history and believe I have some knowledge in martial arts. But the natural sword… it’s so abrupt that…”

“Don’t judge it by current standards.”

Gwanggu Shingae’s voice was firm.

“It is said that martial arts progress over time. That’s right. But the fact that future martial arts are more advanced does not mean that current martial artists are stronger than those of the past.”

“Why not?”

“Because even if martial arts progress, how far a person can go depends on themselves.”

“Ah…”

Gwanggu Shingae smiled humorously.

“Now, even I receive praise as a ‘master’ wherever I go. They call me ‘the fastest under the sky’. Thanks to that, I never lack charity food, but it’s actually something embarrassing. If I went back to that time, far from being ‘the fastest’, I would be treated like a useless old beggar. Back then, the world was full of people faster than me.”

“Was the difference that great?”

“It’s not that it’s rare now, it’s that it was then. That era was truly incredible.”

“Hmm.”

The historian made a dubious sound, as if he found it hard to understand.

“And also, your criteria is a bit strange.”

“Eh?”

“The Heavenly Flowing Sword was practically the second-in-command of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword. Sure, if you ask me if he was the second strongest, I would say no, but his position and authority certainly deserved that title. What’s so strange about someone like that mastering something like the natural sword? He was from the Great Family of the Infinity Sword, after all.”

“You are right.”

The historian could only nod.

When thinking of them as real people, he felt a dissonance, but on reflection, the very name of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword was mythical. What’s so strange about figures from a myth using the natural sword?

“The strange thing was not the Heavenly Flowing Sword, but that guy, Wei Yanho.”

“Certainly.”

“He was a kid who faced the natural sword that the second-in-command of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword achieved after a lifetime of dedication. Now that I think about it, it’s absurd.”

“It must have been a great shock at that moment.”

“Not really that much. When you think about it, it sounds ridiculous, but when you see it with your own eyes… you somehow accept it. We humans have that aspect.”

“That is so.”

The historian let out a deep sigh.

Suddenly he remembered in what era the events he was hearing about took place. A period of unprecedented chaos in the history of the martial world. He had forgotten for a moment that he was listening about that era.

“So what happened? How did the Heavenly Flowing Sword escape?”

“I haven’t even said the result of the fight and you’re already asking how he escaped. You’re going too fast.”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? The Heavenly Flowing Sword reappears in history, and the Radiant Martial Sovereign couldn’t have lost there, so the result can be deduced. What I don’t understand is… how the Heavenly Flowing Sword managed to get out alive.”

“Why don’t you understand?”

“The Radiant Martial Sovereign seems a little distracted, but when necessary he shows an excessively cold side. If we review his history, very few of those who faced him and lost kept their lives.”

“Correct.”

“Analyzing his personality and actions, I doubt he considered the Great Family of the Infinity Sword as allies, even if they were his friends. On the contrary, he must have been even more ruthless.”

“Very insightful. You’re quite clever.”

“So how did he survive? Was the Heavenly Flowing Sword that strong?”

“The Heavenly Flowing Sword was strong. But Wei Yanho was stronger.”

“Then the Tang Family of Sichuan couldn’t stop the warriors from the Baekgeom Fortress?”

“Although the Tang had lost momentum, they were not that incompetent. They would have been able to buy enough time for Wei Yanho to finish off the Heavenly Flowing Sword.”

“Then there are only two possibilities.”

The historian spoke with determination.

“Either the Radiant Martial Sovereign was carried away by compassion and forgave the Heavenly Flowing Sword, or someone came to help him.”

Gwanggu Shingae did not answer, bringing the bottle of alcohol to his lips.

“The Radiant Martial Sovereign is not one to be carried away by feelings. Even if his master was practically the patriarch of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword, that was three hundred years ago. If he showed mercy just for that name, he would have to be merciful to everyone. Clearly someone else intervened.”

“That’s how it was.”

“Who was it?”

Gwanggu Shingae took another drink.

“Lord Gwanggu Shingae, there has been enough suspense. Please…”

“Don’t rush me.”

The historian closed his mouth.

Gwanggu Shingae’s voice contained an irresistible force. Not exactly force, but emotion. The traces of emotion in his voice were enough to make the listener’s heart beat faster.

“It’s not about creating suspense. It’s that I can barely bear to mention this matter. It starts now. It was too long a story. It all starts now. Yes, everything before only existed to get to this moment.”

Bitterness, sadness, bewilderment, and fury.

They were strange emotions.

‘What the hell happened then…?’

It was something that happened so long ago. But what could have happened so that the vestiges of those emotions felt so intense even now?

After drinking a long drink, Gwanggu Shingae spoke.

“I already told you.”

“What do you mean?”

“That the reason why the history of that era was not transmitted correctly to later generations was because Wei Yanho could not be described as he was.”

“Yes, you mentioned it.”

“And it’s true. But it’s not the whole story. Actually, there is a more important reason.”

Gwanggu Shingae, also known as Jangil, spoke with a face full of regret.

“All those who had the right to speak the truth died or left the martial world. Those who did not have that right closed their eyes and buried the truth. That is why it could not be transmitted. Those who knew did not speak, and those who did not know had nothing to say.”

“……”

“But the story had to be told. So those who did not know began to spread their version to the world. That in that era there was such a Radiant Martial Sovereign who saved the world. Heh heh heh heh.”

Gwanggu Shingae’s laughter was tinged with emptiness.

“Yes, I must tell the story. Before I die. At least someone must know the truth. The truth that those who knew buried, the truth that the sinners hid.”

“What…?”

“Listen.”

Gwanggu Shingae straightened up.

The Elder Gwanggu Shingae of the Beggar Sect.

The one who reached that high position slowly opened his mouth.

“I’ll tell you… if you can bear this truth.”

* * *

‘What is happening?’

Wei Jeonghan could not understand the situation.

He is known as Sword of the Righteous Hero, recognized throughout the world. Someone who prided himself on having reached a martial level worthy of the title of swordsman.

But even he could not follow this fight.

Although he saw it with his own eyes, he could not understand what was happening.

He was also a swordsman.

Although he did not dare to face them, he had never been unable to understand what was happening in a duel between swordsmen. Until now.

But now, even though his eyes were open, he felt like a blind man.

They were swordsmen like him.

People who wielded swords, but these two before him had completely transcended his understanding. He could not discern what was happening.

It would have been easier to understand if it were a fight at invisible speeds.

‘Has it ended?’

The two men lowered their swords and looked at each other.

The tension that previously kept them rigid, the murderous gaze they directed at each other, was no longer felt.

Just a small emptiness, and…

“Now that I think about it, it makes sense. After all, was it the Infinity Sword?”

The Heavenly Flowing Sword spoke in a low voice.

Wei Yanho nodded.

“Yes, the Infinity Sword. What you should have pursued.”

“I understand what you’re saying. Yes, it was the Infinity Sword. The one your master taught you?”

“No.”

Wei Yanho shook his head.

“My master wanted me to follow my own path. In the world there are countless swords and countless methods. As long as you reach your goal, it doesn’t matter which path you take. That was my master’s way.”

“……”

Wei Yanho looked at the Heavenly Flowing Sword with serene eyes.

“The Infinity Sword is a concept, not a method. If you can contain it, the shape of the container doesn’t matter. My master wanted me not to even cling to the Infinity Sword as a final result. He wanted me to transcend it.”

“Ah…”

The Heavenly Flowing Sword let out a sigh.

‘Transcending the Infinity Sword…’

He had never considered it. Since he took up a sword, everything in him was dedicated to reaching the Infinity Sword. He never thought of going further.

For him, the sword was the Infinity Sword, and the Infinity Sword was the end.

“I understand now why I felt so uneasy.”

A small smile appeared on the lips of the Heavenly Flowing Sword.

“The containers are different.”

There was a hint of regret in his words.

“Didn’t you say there are many paths? Couldn’t ours be another one?”

“That there are multiple paths to a goal does not mean that all paths lead to it. Someone who must climb a mountain cannot claim that going down is also a path. The Infinity Sword contains everything. Which means…”

Wei Yanho’s voice became a little bitter.

“…that you must walk alone, without asking for help. The moment you resort to the strength of another, even the hands of someone impure, you will never be able to overcome that wall again. That is not the path to the Infinity Sword.”

“I see.”

The Heavenly Flowing Sword nodded.

He might be right. Or not.

The world is full of logics. Proving that yours is correct is everyone’s task.

The only regrettable thing is…

“I would have liked to see… if your path or my brother’s was the correct one.”

That he would no longer be around to find out.

Schiiing.

A sound like tearing cloth echoed in the air.

At the same time, the Heavenly Flowing Sword’s chest opened in a long cut, and a geyser of blood gushed towards the sky.

“…What a pity, really.”

The body of the Heavenly Flowing Sword slowly fell to the ground.

***