Chapter 551

## Chapter 551. The Lazy One Steps Out (1)

I don’t know what words to use to explain it.

Mmm, yes. I think I can start from here.

Why do you think war broke out?

Yes, the reason. The reason why the war started.

Most wars break out because of interests. How many would start a war in which they only suffer losses?

Even if it’s disguised with various words, the truth is that almost all wars start because of interests. It may be for money, for food, sometimes for power. The important thing is that there must be something to gain for a war to begin.

But there are cases that are not like that.

Sometimes, even knowing that there is nothing to gain from the war, it breaks out anyway. And the cause of those wars without benefit is usually resentment.

This is terrifying.

Do you understand how terrifying it is to start a war knowing that there is nothing to gain, that only sacrifice will remain?

Those guys don’t even take care of their own lives. They would do anything to release the resentment that consumes them until they melt.

That was the nature of the war that ravaged the *Central Plains* back then.

That’s why it was impossible to calculate.

With those who seek profit, you can predict their actions. They will move in the direction that gives them the most profit, so you can anticipate them.

But with those who move out of resentment, there is no way to predict.

It is impossible for one man to read another’s mind. Therefore, neither the leader of the *Righteous Martial Alliance*, *Supreme Sovereign*, nor the strategist *Master of Divine Abilities* could know what *Baekgeom Fortress* would do.

Huh?

What did they do?

Well, they could only do what was within their reach.

And did it work?

No. Under normal conditions, that war would have completely swept us away. But the reason we were able to resist was one.

Which one?

Are you serious? Obviously, we also had someone on our side. An element that they could never have anticipated. In the entire history of wars, there has not been such a colossal variable as that.

That was their misfortune.

—

*Supreme Sovereign* silently observed the enemy forces in front of him.

The endless line of warriors dressed in immaculate white exerted overwhelming pressure even on him.

‘Baekgeom…’

White swords.

‘It must mean purity.’

Unlike them.

The fact that they had arrived here keeping their robes impeccable gave him an idea of the meaning they attached to that white color.

Unlike the orthodox factions of the Central Plains, they represented absolute purity.

Yes, that was a warning and a reproach towards the Central Plains.

‘One…’

Supreme Sovereign looked at the warriors of Baekgeom Fortress with a serious face.

‘What will they do with the blood spilled in Zhejiang?’

Their white clothes were already stained red. No matter how much they washed and polished them, the smell of blood could not be hidden. The justice they proclaimed had disappeared.

All that remained was resentment.

Only mutual hatred remained, trapped in a cycle of resentment.

—Grand Master.

Supreme Sovereign turned his head towards Song Hyun, who spoke with a tense expression:

—Is it necessary to engage in dialogue with them?

It was a warning to avoid confrontation.

If this confrontation continued, someone would step forward to try to speak. And that conversation…

Supreme Sovereign’s gaze went beyond Song Hyun, towards the crowd that was gathering.

‘How foolish.’

There would be many reasons. Some wanted to witness with their own eyes this historic confrontation between Baekgeom Fortress and the Righteous Martial Alliance. Others wanted to know the direction the war would take.

If the enemy were the Demon Cult, no one would dare to approach. But since it was Baekgeom Fortress, they were confident that, regardless of the outcome, there would be no harm to civilians. That pushed them to come.

A subtle irritation ran through the Supreme Sovereign.

He could endure the disgust. But what really exasperated him was that their presence was a great burden to the Righteous Martial Alliance.

Song Hyun also feared it.

If Baekgeom Fortress spoke here, the Righteous Martial Alliance would lose its justification.

‘Do you know what that means, Baekgeom Fortress?’

Supreme Sovereign’s eyes narrowed.

—Amitabha.

The great monk Gong Mu, leader of the Arhats of Shaolin, who had arrived that morning, put his palms together and said:

—Grand Master, delaying it will bring no good.

Supreme Sovereign couldn’t help but laugh.

For them, he was a layman. The Taoist and Buddhist disciples, who were to avoid war and reduce bloodshed, were now pressuring him to act.

How ridiculous.

‘What good are appearances?’

The moment the Supreme Sovereign clenched his fist, the perfectly aligned ranks of Baekgeom Fortress slowly opened on both sides. Through the path that formed, a figure advanced calmly.

The Supreme Sovereign followed that man with his gaze.

‘Who is it?’

He was young.

Too young to represent Baekgeom Fortress. From his age, the Supreme Sovereign could deduce his identity.

‘Baek Hoemyung.’

The vice-chief of Baekgeom Fortress.

A prodigy of his generation who, despite his youth, handled the important affairs of the fortress instead of the retired leader.

He advanced.

—This…

Song Hyun looked at Baek Hoemyung with despair. If the enemy came out like this, they could not attack unilaterally. They had lost the initiative.

But the Supreme Sovereign, with a relieved expression, stepped forward.

—It seems they are calling me. I will go.

—G-Grand Master! Why would you personally face that guy? He’s not on your level.

—Level?

Supreme Sovereign waved his hand and advanced.

‘They know no shame.’

The real shame is not making a mistake, but not regretting it afterwards. If you hide mistakes, your own or your ancestors’, how could you walk with your head held high under the sky?

Everything must be accepted.

Supreme Sovereign and Baek Hoemyung stopped three zhang apart, face to face.

In terms of power and status known in the jianghu, Baek Hoemyung had no right to face Supreme Sovereign. But, seeing them, Baek Hoemyung seemed even more serene than him.

—It is an honor to see the Grand Master.

Baek Hoemyung extended his hand with a respectful greeting. Supreme Sovereign responded in the same way.

—I have heard a lot about the vice-chief.

—Just unimportant rumors.

—They say that the vice-chief is the talent that will guide Baekgeom Fortress for decades. But still being vice-chief, it is a pity that the leader is not in command of this force. Hasn’t the leader of Baekgeom Fortress come?

—The leader has not come.

The Supreme Sovereign’s eyes moved slightly.

—Why not?

—How could I dare to guess his profound thoughts? It would be disrespectful even to try.

—The leader of Baekgeom Fortress is your father, isn’t he?

—Although we share blood… I am the vice-chief, and he is the leader. In Baekgeom Fortress there is no one stupid enough to forget their position for such an insignificant bond.

—You evade the question.

Supreme Sovereign stared at him.

—Then, can I assume that you represent Baekgeom Fortress?

—No.

The firm answer made Supreme Sovereign frown.

—Then?

—Not Baekgeom Fortress. I am here not as vice-chief of Baekgeom Fortress, but as young master of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword. Baekgeom Fortress is just an empty name. We are the Great Family of the Infinity Sword. I will give you the answer you want: all my words represent the will of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword. Does that satisfy you?

—Great Family of the Infinity Sword…

Baek Hoemyung’s words, charged with internal energy, resonated in the air. Even the distant spectators heard them clearly.

‘Why do I care?’

Although he thought he should accept it calmly, he couldn’t help but look towards there. It seemed that his self-control was not deep enough yet.

—Then I will ask the Great Family of the Infinity Sword: do you really seek to shed blood?

—Shed blood?

—Yes.

—Who shed it first?

—That is a thing of the past.

—Who decides what is a thing of the past?

—Young master.

Supreme Sovereign raised his voice forcefully.

—I know you harbor resentment. But that happened three hundred years ago! Isn’t it excessive to drag that matter into the present and stain the martial world with blood?

—Excessive?

Baek Hoemyung’s face turned icy.

—You say it’s excessive?

Supreme Sovereign let out a deep sigh.

How ridiculous.

Supreme Sovereign was the perpetrator. Although he had not committed the mistake with his own hands, his ancestors had, and he had enjoyed the benefits in a jianghu stained by their crimes. He could not shirk that responsibility.

And they were the victims.

The perpetrator arguing with the victim about what is excessive. Anywhere else, Supreme Sovereign would have spat and cursed at such a scene.

But now he had no choice.

—If you want an apology, I will give it to you. If you want compensation, I will give it to you. If I could reverse the twisted fate… the Righteous Martial Alliance would do anything. So, even now, reconsider. If you rise up with that Demon Cult and attack the world, no matter your reasons, history will remember you as criminals. Do you wish the glorious myth of the Infinity Sword to be stained by your infamy?

Baek Hoemyung smiled coldly.

—I have heard your logic of traitors.

—…Young master.

—But it is not something you can pronounce. It is not something that you, who blinded by fear stabbed your allies in the back, can say. It is not something that you, who crossed the walls of my clan without knowing anything and killed without leaving even a child alive, damned bastards, can say! You chased those who fled, killing again and again! You wanted to dry all the blood of my clan in the world, you damned sons of bitches! Isn’t that so, Supreme Sovereign?

Baek Hoemyung’s body trembled.

—How well you speak! With that big mouth, how well you speak! The Central Plains? What does the history of the Central Plains matter?! Did you forget what you did to us?! Do you think we consider ourselves part of them?! Do we care about the history written by arrogant traitors?! To forget?! That we forget our resentment?!

His voice abruptly calmed down.

—Bring the dead before me.

—…

—Three thousand. The blood of my clan, their followers… they all totaled three thousand. Three thousand died in one day, at your hands. Three thousand died to save one. Now tell me! With what can you compensate for those lives?! Those innocent lives that perished?!

With bloodshot eyes, Baek Hoemyung shouted:

—Not three thousand, but thirty thousand, three hundred thousand, three million! Not even if ALL of you died would the wrath of the Infinity Sword be extinguished, until all of you burn!

Supreme Sovereign looked up at the sky.

Why did they do that?

Why?

In the end, everything comes back.

The negotiations had failed.

So abruptly.