CLS-Chapter 641

Chapter 641:

“Uh…….”

The Historian gaped.

“N-no, wait a moment. Who? The Imperial Guard?”

Guwangqushen let out a big yawn and patted his mouth.

“What are you so surprised about?”

“N-no, the government and the martial world maintain mutual non-interference…….”

“What obvious nonsense are you spouting? Those principles that can be earrings on ears or nose rings on noses—who actually follows them!”

“That’s true, but…….”

Guwangqushen’s words weren’t wrong either.

In fact, the principle of mutual non-interference between the government and martial world was just something the government said when it was awkward to interfere with the martial world.

When the Imperial Palace’s power was strong, it always tried to control the martial world. Then that saying would disappear, and out would come the words that all under heaven are the Emperor’s subjects.

But even so…….

“There have been cases where the government moderately intervened in martial affairs, but the Imperial Guard…….”

“Hehehe, that’s why Wei Yan-ho is such a troublesome fellow.”

Guwangqushen laughed with a hehehe.

“Other guys can’t even think of such things. Like you right now. They can’t even conceive of dragging the government into martial affairs. But Wei Yan-ho can do it. Do you know why?”

“I think I understand. No matter how honourable the position,  Wei Yan-ho is the Right Inspector of the Censorate. So it would be possible.”

“Wrong.”

“……What?”

The Historian’s face went blank.

“It’s not that. There have been quite a few cases of martial artists receiving government positions until now. For example, wasn’t Patriarch Zhang Sanfeng appointed as Imperial Teacher?”

Imperial Teacher was the Emperor’s instructor.

Of course, the position of Imperial Teacher wasn’t one with real power like the Right Inspector of the Censorate. It was just an honorary position. But with just the symbolism of being called the Emperor’s instructor, it couldn’t be said to be inferior to the Right Inspector position.

“There certainly have been quite a few such cases.”

“Right, that’s what I mean. But none of them ever thought to drag the government into martial affairs. Do you know why?”

“Because it’s dangerous.”

“Hmm?”

The Historian spoke his thoughts without wavering.

“The reason the martial world keeps the government at arm’s length is very simple. Because they can’t ignore the power the government possesses. And as you just said, the government even has the justification of representing the Emperor’s will. If they keep getting entangled with such a government, they’ll eventually be unable to escape their sphere of influence. That’s why the martial world distances itself from the government and tries to keep away from them.”

“Oh!”

Guwangqushen spoke as if greatly amazed.

“You’re much smarter than I thought!”

“…….”

The Historian’s face flushed red.

“Then what exactly did you think of me?”

“I thought you were a bit stupid. Whatever you say, it’s always ‘Is that possible?’ or ‘That doesn’t seem to make sense’…….”

“That’s because it’s true!”

“That’s right. But it’s not my fault. It’s because Wei Yan-ho is such a thoughtless fellow.”

“Hmm.”

Guwangqushen grinned, showing his yellow teeth.

“You’re very smart and well-educated, so you’d think of such things, but martial artists are ignorant sword-wielding fools who don’t think that far.”

“Then?”

“They just don’t do it because they’re told not to.”

“……What? That’s the only reason?”

“You’re talking nonsense. Do you know how terrifying education is? How many people in the world can logically explain why humans shouldn’t kill other humans? They just don’t do it because they’ve been taught since childhood that it’s wrong. Isn’t that so?”

The Historian nodded.

Though it wasn’t something he wanted to agree with, it was hard to deny. The principles and laws humans have built up are vast. It would take enormous time and effort to question and understand the reasons for all of them.

So most choose to accept without doubt.

“Martial artists are the same. Most just accept it. If they’re told not to do something, they don’t do it.”

“Mmm.”

“But…… Wei Yan-ho is different.”

The Historian nodded.

“He certainly tends to be contrarian. And he has critical thinking…….”

“That’s not it…….”

Guwangqushen cut off the Historian’s words. Then he quietly clicked his tongue.

“It’s because he’s uneducated.”

“…….”

The Historian’s eyes widened.

How should he put this?

Though he could sufficiently guess why those words came out and somewhat agreed with their meaning, those words were far too irreverent.

‘Come to think of it, there’s never been a time when it wasn’t irreverent.’

This was  Wei Yan-ho, praised as the hero who saved the world. Wasn’t it an age where even finding the smallest fault with him was considered irreverent?

Yet since the Historian entered this hut, all they’d done was curse, find fault with, and criticize Wei Yan-ho.

‘Is this really okay?’

A fundamental doubt arose.

Actually, the stories about Wei Yan-ho that had come out so far, though they certainly differed in specific details, weren’t really that different from the known achievements of Wei Yan-ho overall.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Even if Wei Yan-ho didn’t save the martial world with great conviction and defeat enemies, if he ultimately did defeat the enemies, wouldn’t that result alone be worthy of praise?

“So why was that fellow uneducated?”

“…….”

He felt greatly guilty somehow.

‘I was agreeing with it before I knew it.’

Because Guwangqushen was so enthusiastically criticizing  Wei Yan-ho, at some point he’d started thinking it was natural. This was never the right attitude for a historian who should guarantee objectivity.

‘I should listen more objectively from now on.’

The Historian straightened his posture.

“Usually such awareness itself comes from one’s master. We don’t receive separate education about martial world laws or anything.”

“That’s right.”

“So they absorb what flows out during regular training. Like listening to explanations while practicing footwork, or when learning some sword technique, hearing about that technique’s origins and related anecdotes. That has an enormous influence, more than you’d think.”

The Historian nodded.

The saying that what master you meet is important doesn’t simply mean the master’s skill is important.

A disciple is influenced by everything about the master.

Not just their teaching methods, but their thoughts, usual ideas—various things inevitably influence the disciple.

It’s like dipping white cloth in indigo water—the cloth itself soon becomes dyed indigo. When it becomes darker, it’s specially called “blue surpassing blue,” but whether superior or inferior to the master, it’s certain they’re dyed the same color.

“But Wei Yan-ho didn’t have such opportunities. When his head was soft and he should have absorbed Wei Jeong-han’s ideology, he was rolling around in bed not training.”

“Honestly, isn’t that partly Wei Jeong-han’s fault too? Since he was away from home.”

The Historian defended Wei Yan-ho.

“If he’d been home, would that fellow have learned?”

“…….”

But he was instantly shot down.

“He failed to learn what he should have learned. But that wasn’t all. The master he happened to meet was Baek Mu-han. As you know, Baek Mu-han as a person is really…….”

“Uh, mm…….”

The Historian found himself nodding without realizing it.

Baek Mu-han was flawless as a martial artist, but as a master, it was hard to know what advantages to point out.

Even that brutal training—only someone like Wei Yan-ho could endure it. An ordinary person would have gone mad before even a year passed. Meeting such a master was both a blessing and misfortune for Wei Yan-ho.

“So Wei Yan-ho wasn’t bound by the existing martial world’s preconceptions. That’s why he could call in the Imperial Palace without any hesitation.”

“Is that impressive…….”

“Right?”

Guwangqushen laughed with a hehehe.

“So didn’t I tell you? Wei Yan-ho is a difficult fellow to evaluate. Even I, who lived with him, find it hard to define that fellow, so it must be even harder for you who only hears about him.”

The Historian sighed.

Wei Yan-ho was a person who simply couldn’t be defined by just one aspect. If he seemed to have one side, he had another; if he seemed to accomplish something, he’d also commit equivalent wrongs.

Those who look back on history always suffer from such pain.

How could defining one person’s life and historical events with simple lines of text ever be reasonable?

It was too difficult a task.

But that’s why countless people devoted themselves to it.

“From Baek Geom Seong’s standpoint, they must have been in complete panic.”

“Right. It was like an enemy they’d never imagined appearing. And though the Imperial Palace is looked down upon compared to the martial world, its power is never inferior to the martial world.”

“Mmm.”

“If we consider even the troops that can’t move because they guard borders as available forces, the martial world would be swept away instantly. But since that’s impossible, the Imperial Palace just leaves the martial world alone.”

“But there’s something I don’t understand. I get that  Wei Yan-ho made the request, but is the position of Right Inspector of the Censorate enough to mobilize the Imperial Guard? I don’t think so.”

“The Imperial Palace was also waiting for the right time to intervene. If the Righteous Martial Alliance fought them alone and lost, the Imperial Palace would have to face Baek Geom Seong and the Demonic Cult alone later. Who would want that?”

“I see.”

“It was like wanting to cry but getting slapped. The Emperor wanted to achieve great merit with this opportunity and gain leadership over the Righteous Martial Alliance.”

“Then why wasn’t this known?”

“It was known. Word spread throughout the world that the Imperial Palace also helped Wei Yan-ho enthusiastically.”

“……I thought that was just them adding their spoon to the pot later.”

“Hehehe, ignoring clearly known facts while believing lies as truth. This is really interesting.”

Guwangqushen laughed heartily and said,

“But the Imperial Palace’s purpose wasn’t achieved either.”

“What?”

“They didn’t know either. That things involving Wei Yan-ho always get tangled up. They probably planned to gain control of the Central Plains with one big turn, but world affairs don’t always go as planned. Especially things involving that fellow.”

“What happened?”

“Would you like to hear?”

Guwangqushen glanced at the wine bottle.

“But what about this? My throat is so parched…….”

“Good grief!”

The Historian pulled out a money pouch from his chest and threw it at Guwangqushen.

“That’s my money!”

“Hehe, you’re quite wealthy. I’ll drink for three nights and four days. Good, good. I’ll tell you the story. If I took your money and didn’t tell the story, I’d be a bandit, not a beggar. So listen well.”

Guwangqushen smiled mischievously and added one more line.

“It’ll be very interesting.”