Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Novel - Chapter 522

**Chapter 522: The Lazy, Begins (2)**

“Hmm.”

Jeong Imyeong, head of the Zhejiang branch of the Righteous Martial Alliance, was lost in thought.

*’Baekgeom Fortress’s movements are suspicious…’ *

A frown etched itself onto his forehead.

Most of the surveillance of Baekgeom Fortress was handled by the Beggar Sect. But that didn’t mean the branch could relax. There might be things the Beggar Sect overlooked, so they couldn’t let their guard down.

The Zhejiang branch was the closest to Baekgeom Fortress within the Righteous Martial Alliance.

In normal times, the Zhejiang branch, being near Baekgeom Fortress, wouldn’t have much to do. There was no need to be on alert, as Baekgeom Fortress even mediated between nearby factions.

Because of this, the Zhejiang branch was one of the smallest within the Righteous Martial Alliance.

Of course, just because the area was controlled didn’t mean all the branches were small.

For example, the Henan branch of the Righteous Martial Alliance, despite being surrounded by powerful factions like Shaolin, was one of the largest. Managing those large factions and mediating their interests required a lot of effort.

But Zhejiang was practically territory governed by Baekgeom Fortress. There were no other factions in Zhejiang that could oppose them. So, naturally, the influence of the Righteous Martial Alliance diminished.

Thanks to that, they had been having quite peaceful days… until now.

*’They could at least reinforce us with more personnel.’ *

Everything changed after the incident at Mount Hua. The suspicious movements of Baekgeom Fortress forced them to stretch their meager personnel to maintain surveillance.

The main headquarters didn’t seem to expect much from them, but a leader couldn’t afford that luxury. If he didn’t demonstrate his ability even when there were no expectations, he would never get out of this dead-end position.

So this time, he had to prove his worth.

The Master of Divine Abilities was someone who didn’t overlook even the smallest details. If he succeeded in this mission, they would undoubtedly re-evaluate his abilities.

Having a competent superior working under his command was something like…

Suddenly, Jeong Imyeong’s expression changed completely.

*’What?’ *

His body moved like lightning toward the window. Throwing it open, a thick fog poured in, but his sharp vision pierced through the veil and fixed on the main gate.

BOOOOM!

The solid sandalwood door exploded into pieces. Immediately afterward, a group of warriors dressed in white stampeded in.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

His body reacted before his mind. When he regained his senses, he had already jumped out the window to the outside.

Ching!

As soon as his feet touched the ground, he drew his sword.

Alarm bells rang out everywhere. The Alliance warriors came running out of the buildings.

“Baekgeom Fortress?”

Jeong Imyeong’s face twisted.

“What does this mean?! Baekgeom Fortress destroying the gate of our branch?!”

“Don’t make that useless fuss.”

The warriors parted, allowing a man to step forward calmly.

“…Won Gyu? The leader of the Hundred Ghost Squad?”

“At least, as the branch head of the Alliance, you recognize my face. The guards treated me like a third-rate warrior, which was disappointing.”

Jeong Imyeong’s hand, gripping his sword, tightened.

*’Won Gyu, the Autonomous Sword.’ *

One of the representative swordsmen of Baekgeom Fortress.

The Hundred Ghost Squad he led was famous for gathering some of the best swordsmen in the fortress. In past wars, they were the ones who achieved the most feats in the name of Baekgeom Fortress.

And now, that same squad had torn down the door of his branch.

Not the Demon Cult, but a branch of the Righteous Martial Alliance.

“What…”

“Let’s skip the unnecessary words, branch head. We both know I didn’t come with good intentions.”

His words were tinged with mockery.

“You have no shame!”

Jeong Imyeong’s mustache trembled with fury.

“Don’t you know what you’re doing?!”

“I know very well.”

The leader of the Hundred Ghost Squad shrugged.

“And I also know who are the ones who have no shame.”

“What?”

“Don’t make that angry face. The ones who should be punished are not us, but you.”

Jeong Imyeong didn’t understand what Won Gyu meant.

Why should the Righteous Martial Alliance be punished?

Taking a quick look behind him, his face darkened.

*’It’s impossible.’ *

Resistance was almost unfeasible. If Baekgeom Fortress had mobilized their forces properly, his branch wouldn’t be able to stand up to them. After all, the members of the Zhejiang branch weren’t there for their martial strength.

*’What should I do?’ *

Jeong Imyeong was confused.

He knew that Baekgeom Fortress had been acting suspiciously. But he never imagined they would attack so abruptly.

“Do you think you can handle the consequences?”

“Tsk, tsk. Branch head, don’t waste time. We are both just pawns following orders. Strategic thinking is not our job, but the job of those above. Isn’t that so?”

“…”

“Buying time won’t change anything. Even if you run away, it won’t change anything. Soon, the Central Plains will be plunged into chaos.”

“And you still do this, knowing that?!”

Jeong Imyeong’s eyes were bloodshot.

“Knowing how many people will die in that chaos, you provoke it?! Is that the will of Baekgeom Fortress?!”

Jeong Imyeong raised his sword, pointing it at Won Gyu.

“I don’t know what Baekgeom Fortress is thinking, but you must realize that your actions go against all agreement and reason.”

“Agreement?”

Won Gyu twisted his lips into a mocking smile.

“You, of all people, talk about agreements?”

“…”

“How arrogant you are. Don’t you know who are the ones who have forgotten reason and agreements? You talk as if you know, but you know nothing.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Won Gyu waved his hand dismissively.

“It wouldn’t change anything even if I explained it. Knowing the truth is a privilege for those who deserve it. You don’t have the right to know it or to redeem yourself before you die. Just die. Die with your unresolved doubts. It’s the only punishment I’ll give you.”

He spoke with a tone full of hatred.

“What are you waiting for?! Kill them all!”

Ching!

The Hundred Ghost Squad.

Demons dressed in white drew their swords and charged.

“Defend yourselves!”

At Jeong Imyeong’s cry, the Alliance warriors also drew their swords and faced the squad.

But the result was completely uneven.

“Aaaagh!”

“Argh!”

“Bastards!”

Jeong Imyeong hardened his face as he watched the Alliance members fall in seconds.

*’So uselessly…’ *

He gnashed his teeth. He felt as if the blood in his whole body was boiling.

*’I should have been more cautious.’ *

He knew that Baekgeom Fortress could rebel. But he didn’t take it seriously. Even with the enemy’s sharp blade at his neck, he couldn’t shake off that sense of unreality.

He had the naive hope that, even if the Demon Cult was a problem, they could deal with Baekgeom Fortress somehow.

Why?

“I thought you were our allies!”

Won Gyu let out a mocking laugh at Jeong Imyeong’s words.

“How funny. Allies… Tell me, branch head. Do you think there are allies in this martial world? Everyone is an enemy. Everyone.”

“Even so, you must understand the situation! Do you think it’s okay to attack the Righteous Martial Alliance when the Demon Cult is lurking? History will not forgive you!”

“History… Yes, history.”

Shhhk.

Won Gyu’s sword slowly came out of its sheath.

“Do you know what history is?”

One step.

Won Gyu, with his sword in hand, advanced slowly towards Jeong Imyeong.

“History is not a record of facts. It’s the usurpers of the world writing what suits them.”

With each step, his murderous aura intensified.

*’Was he this strong?’ *

Jeong Imyeong couldn’t hide his astonishment.

Won Gyu, the Autonomous Sword.

It was impossible not to know his name. If he didn’t know his reputation, he wouldn’t deserve to be the branch head of the Alliance.

But even though Won Gyu was famous in the martial world, he was only one of the many swordsmen of Baekgeom Fortress. There were at least twenty stronger than him.

And yet, his mere presence paralyzed him.

Had they underestimated Won Gyu’s power, or had the world underestimated the power of Baekgeom Fortress?

Jeong Imyeong prayed that it was the former.

If there were so many in Baekgeom Fortress stronger than Won Gyu, the Righteous Martial Alliance would not be able to stop them.

Rivers of blood, mountains of corpses.

That horrible scene was already looming in his mind.

*’Where is the world going?’ *

Jeong Imyeong clenched his sword tightly.

“Aaaagh!”

The screams behind him did not cease.

An overwhelming sadness filled his chest. Living as a warrior meant that a day like this could come. But he had imagined a more dramatic death, with more purpose.

Not a death as absurd as this.

“I will die here today.”

“You understand well.”

“But your end will not be happy either.”

“Oh?”

Jeong Imyeong stared at him intently.

“The Righteous Martial Alliance is the martial world, and the martial world is the Alliance. You have no idea how much power the martial world hides…”

Shhk.

His words were cut off.

Won Gyu didn’t want to listen anymore and beheaded Jeong Imyeong.

Thud!

Jeong Imyeong’s head, with wide eyes, fell to the ground. Won Gyu looked at it and clicked his tongue.

“He only said obvious things.”

They knew better than anyone how strong the martial world and the Alliance were. That’s why they had waited silently. Otherwise, they would have cut off the heads of those hypocrites decades ago.

“There’s no time to waste. Kill them all!”

“Yes!”

“Don’t chase those who are running away!”

“But, leader, if we do, they…”

“Let them go.”

“Yes!”

Won Gyu smiled maliciously as he watched the fugitives jump over the walls.

“Let them run and tell the news. It’s time they knew. The long peace is over. Their lives full of hypocrisy will also come to an end.”

Amidst heart-wrenching screams, the buildings of the Righteous Martial Alliance began to burn.

Won Gyu watched the scene as he slowly sheathed his sword.

“Easier than I thought.”

Seeing the Righteous Martial Alliance unable to put up resistance left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Had they waited so long for this?

He knew it was just a branch, but he expected at least a little more excitement.

“It won’t continue to be this easy. Now, what will you do, Master of Divine Abilities?”

As he watched the burning buildings, the sun set behind Won Gyu.

As if the bright day had ended, darkness slowly loomed over the world.