Chapter 552

Chapter 552: The Lazy One Lashes Out (2)

A strange atmosphere began to spread.

It was inevitable.

Everyone had heard it clearly.

Baek Hoemyung’s voice was imbued with internal energy, and such a voice could propagate without limit. Those who heard the heart-rending cry, as if someone was spitting blood, could not hide their bewilderment.

“What kind of story is this?”
“Did the Central Plains massacre the Great Family of the Infinity Sword?”

Everyone’s gazes turned to one place.

There, a man stood.

The Supreme Sovereign, Sima Cheonse.

In the affairs of the world, one should never judge by listening to only one side of the story. It could be that they were spouting nonsense.

Depending on how Sima Cheonse reacted, the way they perceived this situation would change.

The reaction that most martial artists expected from him was a single one:

A cry of anger.

A vehement response to such nonsense.

That was the right thing to do.

Even if those words were true, Sima Cheonse had to deny them. Because justification was something too important.

Even if it meant deceiving himself, at this moment, he had to commit that hypocrisy with pride. Only then could he fight with a peaceful heart.

But Sima Cheonse’s reaction was different from what they expected.

Looking up at the sky, Sima Cheonse sighed and then fixed his eyes on Baek Hoemyung.

“There is nothing I can understand, nor anything I can compensate for.”

His fists clenched involuntarily.

Those words were a complete admission.

“Three thousand?”

The faces of those present paled.

The Great Family of the Infinity Sword, which had mysteriously disappeared, became a legend.

Was the reason for their disappearance that the Central Plains exterminated them?

How could they have committed such an atrocity?

Hands began to tremble.

No one here was a fool. Everyone knew how powerful the Great Family of the Infinity Sword was. If they had been massacred so perfectly, it was impossible for only a few to have done it.

That meant that most of the leaders of the time had participated. Then…

Gazes turned towards the leaders of the factions.

Towards their backs, which never turned around, always looking forward.

They knew it by instinct.

“We are the same too.”

Their ancestors had been part of that ruthless madness.

It was obvious.

Otherwise, it would not have been kept so well hidden. There is only one way to keep a secret perfectly: eliminate those who know it or give everyone a reason to keep it.

It was too clear which method their ancestors had chosen.

“Mmm…”

A heavy groan escaped from Song Hyun’s lips.

He could feel the confusion behind him.

“It’s understandable.”

It was not something easy to accept.

These were people who preached justice and righteousness. Although the main reason they risked their lives on the battlefield was because there were forces that threatened their lives, they could not ignore the pride of protecting the peace of the Central Plains either.

In the end, humans are emotional creatures.

Whether you are good or bad, that does not affect combat. Doing the right thing does not make you stronger or sharpen your sword.

But there is a difference in momentum.

That is why, throughout history, all commanders have been obsessed with “justification.” Because a battle with cause and one without it are clearly different.

At this moment, the justification had passed to the side of Baekgeom Fortress.

“He planned it.”

There was no way that Baek Hoemyung’s emotion, crying tears of blood, was genuine. Undoubtedly, it was a horrible and frightening event, but it happened three hundred years ago. There was no reason to react so vehemently.

Even so, Baek Hoemyung was shouting and clamoring.

As if he wanted everyone to hear him clearly.

“That’s why we shouldn’t have let Sima Cheonse out…”

Sima Cheonse was a great leader.

But he was not a great commander. If the Master of Divine Abilities were in his place, he would have dismissed Baek Hoemyung’s words as nonsense and ordered the attack.

Sometimes, ignoring the truth is also bravery. But Sima Cheonse was not that kind of person. He was the very embodiment of righteousness, and hiding or denying his own sins was unthinkable for him.

When he faced absolute evil, like the Demon Cult, his approach raised the morale of his allies. But Baekgeom Fortress was not evil. And now everyone knew it.

As he felt the confusion and the tense atmosphere behind him, Song Hyun bit his lip.

“This is not good, Leader. This is…”

This was the road to ruin.

But, regardless of whether he understood Song Hyun’s feelings, Sima Cheonse continued speaking in a serene voice.

“But… aren’t you following the same path?”

“The same path?”

“Killing thirty thousand, three hundred thousand, three million… How is that different from the crimes our ancestors committed? If you kill innocent people like that, do you really think you will feel better? Will you be able to rejoice and celebrate your revenge?”

“……”

Baek Hoemyung stared at him without answering.

But Sima Cheonse did not avoid his gaze either.

“It’s not too late yet.”

“What peaceful words. We have already started the war.”

“That the war has started does not mean that it cannot end.”

“Are you saying that we can stop it here?”

“Yes.”

Baek Hoemyung let out a mocking laugh.

“You should have said that before we destroyed the Zhejiang branch. We already have blood on our hands. The resentment has already accumulated. It is not a weight that you, as Leader, can bear alone.”

“I can bear it.”

“……”

Sima Cheonse stood up straight as he spoke.

“The position of Leader exists precisely to bear such things. I have no intention of closing my eyes to what is wrong for my own safety. I will assume all responsibility for the lives lost. The families can direct their resentment towards me. So let’s stop here. We can still turn back.”

A peculiar glint appeared in Baek Hoemyung’s eyes.

“So this is the Righteous Martial Alliance?”

No, to be exact, it was not the Righteous Martial Alliance, but Sima Cheonse.

He was old-fashioned.

And he said ridiculously naive things.

Baekgeom Fortress had already destroyed the Zhejiang branch. In that place alone, a thousand people had died. And now he intended to bury the resentment of those thousand under his name and reunite with Baekgeom Fortress again?

“It’s impossible.”

As much as Sima Cheonse had absolute support within the Righteous Martial Alliance, this was something that not even his name could bear. Not even renouncing his position as Leader would solve it.

Even so, Sima Cheonse said that he would take that path.

Why?

“An unwavering gaze.”

Looking into Sima Cheonse’s eyes, the reason was understood. There was no hidden calculation. He did not believe that by reuniting with Baekgeom Fortress he could handle the situation.

He simply believed that this was the right thing to do, and that is why he advanced without hesitation.

He was stupid.

Absurdly naive.

But…

“What would I have done?”

If Baek Hoemyung had not been born in Baekgeom Fortress and had led another faction, he would not have hesitated to join Sima Cheonse. A man like that would never betray his allies. A man like that was trustworthy.

The reason why the Righteous Martial Alliance had been able to maintain itself as a great force was, in large part, due to the integrity of Sima Cheonse.

Baek Hoemyung curved his lips into a smile.

“I always thought people were exaggerating when praising Sima Cheonse, the Supreme Sovereign…”

He tilted his head slightly.

“But it wasn’t so. You are a martial artist worthy of respect. I don’t know if I have the right, but, in the name of Baekgeom Fortress, I pay you homage.”

“Then?”

Sima Cheonse’s face lit up.

But that light went out as quickly as a candle.

“I appreciate your offer, but we have already crossed a river from which we cannot return. And we do not want to return.”

“Do you really insist on that path?”

“Isn’t it the same path that the Central Plains took? The path that the martial world chose. Seeing how well you live, it doesn’t seem like there’s any reason to fear, does it?”

“……”

“The conversation ends here. Now everyone knows. Why we made this decision, why we must eternally hate the Central Plains… Now you only have one option left. To die with honor… or to be stained with evil trying to save your own lives. Whichever you choose…”

Baek Hoemyung smiled coldly.

“It will be fun.”

He turned around.

As if he did not need an answer, Baek Hoemyung slowly returned to the ranks of Baekgeom Fortress. As he watched his figure walk away, Sima Cheonse could not say anything.

“There is no turning back.”

He had done everything possible. And yet, nothing had changed. Now, Sima Cheonse had to become a demon.

He closed his eyes.

It was not that he did not feel compassion for them. If it were not because the Demon Cult was advancing from the other side, perhaps he would have found a better solution.

But not now.

He had already hesitated enough. There was no more time for hesitation. Only the total destruction of the enemy remained. When Sima Cheonse opened his eyes, his face was that of a specter.

“Huu…”

Seeing him, Song Hyun let out a deep sigh.

“At least that’s a relief.”

It was regrettable that the general morale had fallen, but it was good news that the leader had made a firm decision. If Sima Cheonse took the lead and eliminated the enemy before morale decayed further, there would be no time to think and everyone would follow his impulse.

“Leader…”

The leader of Namgung greeted Sima Cheonse when he returned.

“I have shown you a shameful spectacle.”

“How could it be your fault?”

“I tried to avoid the bloodshed. But resentment is not something that disappears easily.”

“That’s how people are.”

Sima Cheonse shook his head.

“Then there is nothing left but to fight. I will no longer give them an iota of consideration. The enemy is only the enemy.”

“That’s the right thing to do.”

Sima Cheonse looked back.

Many were watching him. Their eyes were full of doubt, unease, and confusion.

“It was a mistake.”

He knew it. It had been a stupidity. But it was something he had to do. He who does not carry justice in his heart wavers before the small. Every time he hesitates, he seeks the easiest and most comfortable path. At that moment, it may seem right, but that hesitation ends up being the cause of deviating from the path in the future.

Sima Cheonse believed in that.

Clinging to justice in his heart, even if it seemed foolish. That was the way Sima Cheonse had lived, and the way of the Righteous Martial Alliance.

“I…”

Sima Cheonse slowly opened his mouth, looking at everyone.