The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 200 Scholar Juyul (23) - The Zhang Lady Answers the Master "The young lady of the Zhang family answers her master." *** Originally, individual victories and defeats in war are not that important. Tactics and strategy. How to efficiently handle large numbers of personnel is what matters, because the victories and defeats of each individual member are merely secondary issues. However, this time was an exception. Juyul and Heaven-Breaking Lord. The longer the two continued their exchanges, the more the martial artists on the battlefield forgot even to swing their swords at the enemies before them, busy watching their fight. Was it because they were the leaders representing both forces? Such reasons weren't entirely absent, but this was merely secondary. "Heaven-Breaking Lord. I heard he was the strongest among the Seven Hegemons of the evil path, but to think he possessed martial arts of that level...!" "To think he doesn't give an inch against our lord, how could such a master be playing the role of an academy scholar!!" Every time Heaven-Breaking Lord swung his glaive, the ground literally split and debris larger than human bodies were swept up in whirlwinds, flying through the sky. The moment those stone chunks spinning at high speed in the air even grazed them, most of the martial artists here would turn into a handful of meat scraps and be unable to escape death. Not only the academy forces, but even the Heaven-Breaking Alliance, who should be allies, couldn't help but feel their legs go weak. And because of that, Juyul's martial arts, which fought on equal terms against such a Heaven-Breaking Lord, could only stand out even more. Juyul's martial arts didn't cause flashy or massive destruction like Heaven-Breaking Lord's, making it difficult to guess their prowess, but dismissing a candle that burned quietly without being extinguished even before a typhoon as just a candle was something only fools would do. The more intense their fight became, the greater its influence grew, the more people stopped fighting and became absorbed in watching. They intuited it. That the victory or defeat of those two would determine the victory or defeat of this battlefield itself. And that in their remaining lives, witnessing such a high-level duel would be extremely rare. It was truly a blessing for the eyes, an opportunity to gain a clue for ascending to a higher realm. The Seven Hegemons of the evil path were no exception to this either. No, because they possessed superior spiritual sense compared to anyone else on the battlefield, they couldn't bear to ignore the fight taking place in the middle of the battlefield. By silent agreement, they went outside the narrow building and turned their gaze, and soon they saw it. The strike of domination that tried to shatter the heavens and the celestial authority that pressed it down and crushed it. Amidst traces that looked as if a giant had struck down with a massive sword, Juyul shuffled forward step by step. At his destination lay Heaven-Breaking Lord, half-buried in building debris, and even while watching that figure approach their leader, the martial artists of the Heaven-Breaking Alliance dared not move. The aura and bearing that Juyul was emanating now was that tremendous. Heaven-Breaking Lord's condition was difficult to call good even as an empty compliment. His right arm was severed, nothing below the shoulder remaining, and sticky blood flowed down between his black hair, covering one eye. He somehow tried to raise his body to continue the fight, but upon confirming that his glaive had also fallen nearby, broken with only fragments remaining, he soon let his body slump. "How futile. I tried to raise the banner high to open a new era, but it ends without taking even one proper step." "Well. Life is long, so another opportunity might come someday." "...What?" Heaven-Breaking Lord's eyes instantly became fierce. Because he thought Juyul was mocking him. However, Juyul continued speaking calmly. "You may return." "You're going to spare my life? You're going to show mercy to this Heaven-Breaking Lord?" "I mean you should bear responsibility as the defeated. If you die and run away, who exactly is supposed to clean up the mess you've created?" If Heaven-Breaking Lord were killed here, the means to control the remaining members of the Heaven-Breaking Alliance would disappear. Having defeated their leader, they might win the battle itself, but annihilating all the remaining personnel would be impossible. There would certainly be those who survived and fled, and this would surely return as greater troubles and resentment. Heaven-Breaking Lord also wasn't ignorant of this logic. That originally, groups of the evil path were more difficult to control and caused more damage to their surroundings when split into various small factions than when united as one large force. "Well, if you want to die cleanly and run away instead of living wretchedly when your reputation is already ruined, just say so. If you dislike the difficult path and lack the courage to endure disgrace and humiliation, then it can't be helped." "......" It was a petty provocation. However, since death had been declared as 'running away', he couldn't say he lacked confidence in cleaning up the aftermath. After letting out a short sigh, Heaven-Breaking Lord raised his body and shouted loudly. "─All forces! This battle is our defeat!!" It was a roar of a level hard to believe came from someone who had lost an arm and was groaning from losing so much blood. It was an order that would normally provoke great resistance since many allies had died and they were about to retreat unilaterally, but the martial artists of the Heaven-Breaking Alliance only stealthily glanced at each other, not one daring to voice opposition. This was because the duel that Juyul and Heaven-Breaking Lord had just displayed was vivid in their minds like a brand burned with fire. Nine Kill Sword showed signs of being displeased with this outcome, but with Ghost Mountain Strategist, who was like second-in-command, obediently accepting Heaven-Breaking Lord's order, and Corpse Demon Flower, who had been facing Zhang Hualing, barely alive and gasping for breath, he well knew there would be nothing to gain from opposing alone. Thus, as the martial artists of the Heaven-Breaking Alliance began to leave the battlefield one by one with drooping shoulders as if fleeing, the martial artists on Juyul's side, finally realizing their victory, also let out cheers. Having achieved victory against opponents who were much stronger and more numerous than themselves without a single casualty, it was truly a great victory and complete triumph that would be remembered in history. Meanwhile, Juyul spoke to Hao Sect leader Oh Ga-myeong and Drunken Dreamer Yayul Jae. "Ga-myeong. Having suffered a great defeat, the Heaven-Breaking Alliance will split apart from now on. Among them, there will surely be those who burn with resentment toward us. However, as long as Heaven-Breaking Lord himself is alive, there will certainly be limits to their scale, so if you keep your eyes and ears wide open and don't let your guard down, you won't be caught off guard. In my room's drawer, there are some miscellaneous writings with several methods for managing an organization, so refer to them." "Yul-jae. Your attempt to establish your own standards straight without being swayed by the world's standards is certainly an advantage, but remember that forcing them on those weaker than you is the same behavior as those you so despise. You are continuing to grow even at this very moment, so even if something similar to this happens next time, you won't be in danger. It's not particularly a great item, but I entrust this staff to you." "...Yes, Master." "I will keep it in mind." Both men's faces hardened stiffly. Because they guessed what meaning Juyul's words carried now. After calmly watching the other disciples who still hadn't realized the situation and continued cheering, Juyul spoke to Zhang Hualing. "Having moved vigorously, I'm somewhat tired. Could you help me rest?" The answer was something that needn't be spoken. *** Thump. A small room in the academy. Immediately after entering that place where he didn't need to worry about others' gazes, Juyul's body collapsed as if crumbling. "Master!!" Letting out a scream, Zhang Hualing urgently supported Juyul's body. Feeling a body weight so light it seemed like a training dummy with all its contents removed, leaving only a plausible outer appearance, tears naturally leaked from Zhang Hualing's eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. If this girl, this lowly woman had been faster, if only...!" All over Zhang Hualing's body as she spoke were still vivid wounds and bloodstains from the recent fight. Seeing how clearly it showed how much she had pushed herself to hurry and end the fight, Juyul let out a bitter smile. "What would there be to be sorry for? I know better than anyone how much effort you, Langlang, put in." "No!!" The denial was a desperate cry as if squeezed out. Fierce self-blame, resentment toward herself, heartbreaking sorrow. Suffering from pain in her heart that couldn't be compared to physical pain, Zhang Hualing wailed. "What effort? If this girl had truly made an effort, if I had become stronger, I could have helped Master before you came to this!" "Langlang. That is arrogance. How can you consider the result of your master's choice as your fault?" "From the beginning, an evil person like this girl should not have stayed by Master's side. If that were the case, Master would never have gotten entangled with evil path groups!!" "Zhang Hualing." "I shouldn't have hoped for happiness. I should have just lived as a rude and immoral person and died miserably. If I had─" "─Young lady." Abruptly. Zhang Hualing's words stopped. To Zhang Hualing who looked at him with trembling eyes, Juyul spoke. In that simple tone from when they first met. "I will return your words exactly as they are." "If it weren't for you, young lady, most of the disciples cheering outside would never have met me." "The Hao Sect and wandering martial artists would have been gathered into the Heaven-Breaking Alliance, and eventually a great war would have broken out between the orthodox and evil paths." "Lower-level martial artists like Zhang Oh would have been the first to lose their lives. Ordinary people like Soyeon would have also been caught up in it and shed blood." "But young lady, listen outside. They are laughing. Without anyone dying. Without creating countless tragedies." "It became so because you, young lady, came to find me that day." Crack. Part of Juyul's skin split and fell off. The appearance, like a dried clay doll crumbling, was also evidence that the vessel that had been repeatedly repaired beyond reason had finally reached its limit. Juyul's hand stroked Zhang Hualing's head. "I am truly grateful. For allowing me to help them." "For allowing me to refute the claim that everything is deception and hypocrisy not with a silver tongue but with proud achievements." "For making me feel relief rather than unease or hesitation even at this moment of departure." The pieces of Juyul's skin that had fallen off turned into clusters of light. Originally, he should have maintained that form in physical shape for at least several weeks, but this time it happened because he had repeatedly pushed himself in various ways. Amidst the clusters of light rising and disappearing like bubbles, Juyul recited poetry like a song. "─This heart that parts from you, Is the same because we are all bound by fateful affection. If the same learning dwells within the heart, Even at the ends of heaven, we will be as close as neighbors. Please do not stop and weep at this crossroads, But shake off your sleeves and march forward proudly. If your fame reaches me from a thousand li away in the future, I will say 'That child is my disciple' and rejoice." With a voice wet with tears, Zhang Hualing sang a response. "One foolish disciple bearing the Zhang surname, Met her master and learned to live as a human, not a beast." Even if I realize that form was a shadow before the furnace, The grace received does not disappear, so what does it matter? I wish to cherish my master's benevolence until I become white bones, But it is hard to abandon that tender heart with which my master looks back. If you hear trivial news of your disciple from a thousand li away in the future, I only hope you will say 'She is my disciple.'" Juyul's eyes briefly widened in surprise. However, he soon laughed heartily and closed his eyes, and before long his body completely became clusters of light and disappeared. In the place of learning where the questions and answers had ended, only suppressed sobbing echoed softly. (E/N: Peak)