Chapter 1226. Rapid Changes (1)

Chapter 1226. Rapid Changes (1)

Let’s say there was a mountain range. The tallest, most imposing in the whole world. And then, let’s say you sliced off its highest peak in half before standing near its feet to look up.

What would you be able to see? Most likely, nothing.

Human eyes were not capable of seeing the

end

. Even after shoving away the clouds covering the mountain and calming down the turbulent storm winds surrounding it, humans still couldn’t possibly take in its magnificence.

All they could do was become aware of how desperately tall the peak was.

A mountain’s peak captured through a camera’s lens would seem so beautiful and majestic. However, when you looked at the same mountain peak with your own eyes... Only then would you realize how impossibly massive it really was.

That was the story for Cai Kechang right now.

“Failed, you say?” The Crimson King asked calmly.

“...”

Cai Kechang bowed his head even lower.

What an

amusing

development this was.

He was a man who moved the world through his wits and schemes. As far as his brain was concerned, he was undoubtedly one of the world’s smartest human beings.

But here he was, planting his precious head on the cold, hard floor to express his undying reverence to his liege! And he didn’t feel one iota of shame or humiliation while doing so.

One would feel humiliated when the other party was on the same level as them. As an example, only a handful of children

might

feel humiliated while bowing to grown-ups. Or... No dogs would feel humiliated while exposing their tummies to their human owners.

To Cai Kechang, that was who the Crimson King was. A noble being well beyond Cai Kechang’s class or brainpower to judge! A divine, out-of-this-world creature molded in greatness and finished in stupendous strength!

Since that was the case, why would Cai Kechang be unwilling to kowtow before a magnificent being like the Crimson King?

“Failure is not the correct description for this event’s outcome, Cai Kechang.”

The Crimson King’s thunderous voice echoed within the audience chamber, pushing Cai Kechang’s head even lower.

“Only those who pursued success would speak of failures. But you never intended to succeed, did you?”

“B-but, my liege...” Cai Kechang replied as cold sweat caked his torso. “Although I didn’t think Kang Jin-Ho would die at the hands of the Japanese, I hoped for the Koreans to suffer considerable losses. That was why I dared to spend the faction’s valuable resources and even mobilized our manpower. Even then, I still failed to produce a desired result.”

Cai Kechang licked his dried lips before shouting bitterly.

“Please punish this failure of a servant! If only I had focused on Kang Jin-Ho’s subordinates! We could have hurt them, sire! This was clearly an error in my judgment!”

“An error, you say...”

The Crimson King slowly uncrossed his legs. And then, his imposing figure began moving on his throne. The significance of that seemingly simple movement must not be underestimated as he had not changed how he sat for a very long time.

How long, you might ask? The Crimson King forewent sleep or rest and sat upright on the throne like a statue in order to reach new heights in his cultivation ever since his battle against Kang Jin-Ho. That was how long it had been.

Yet here he was, breaking the self-imposed seal!

“No, that’s wrong.”

BOOM!

The Crimson King’s feet landed on the floor.

“You already knew that the Japanese were incapable of doing anything to Kang Jin-Ho. Even then, you still exhausted our resources to kill that man. What is the reason for that?”

“...”

Cai Kechang couldn’t reply and pressed his forehead even harder against the floor.

The Crimson King replied for him instead. “It’s because you... were scared.”

“Yes, my liege.”

“You were scared of Kang Jin-Ho, weren’t you?”

“You’re correct, my liege!”

“

Hahahaha

!”

The Crimson King abruptly guffawed. However, his laughter felt somewhat forced, maybe even distorted. Rather than out of amusement, he seemed to be laughing for a different reason.

“Cai Kechang.”

“Yes, my liege!”

“You have saddened me greatly today.”

“...!”

The Crimson King slowly rose from his impressive throne. The world seemed to hold its breath when a noble being wearing a golden dragon robe stood tall and imposing.

The... king! There was no mistaking it, this man was truly a king.

He made the lesser men grovel before his majestic aura. A simple flick of his hand could rock heaven and earth!

Without a doubt, he was a bona fide king!

“You fear Kang Jin-Ho not because you think he’ll kill you. No! You’re scared about me, the Crimson King, losing to him! And dying at his hands! Isn’t that right?”

“B-but...”

“Do you dare speak lies to me, Cai Kechang?”

Cai Kechang hurriedly clamped his mouth shut. He trembled in silence before slamming his forehead against the floor.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After viciously slamming his head on the hard floor three times, he shouted again as blood trickled down from the wound.

“Please punish this foolish servant with death!”

The Crimson King slowly shook his head. “I am deeply saddened. To think I have become a king who can’t even instill faith in my own subordinates! What a pathetic state I’ve fallen into.”

The Crimson King raised his arm, revealing his hand hidden under the dragon robe’s sleeve. That hand didn’t have a single blemish on it. Such was the pale smoothness of its skin that it couldn’t have belonged to that of a powerful expert.

“Cai Kechang.”

“My liege!”

“Look at me.”

Cai Kechang cautiously raised his head and looked at the Crimson King’s face.

“Cai Kechang, you no longer have a reason to fear.”

That was when Cai Kechang’s eyes powerfully quaked.

“Your fears and worries stemmed from my weakness. Hence, I won’t criticize you. A strategist constantly forcing himself to create new tricks and schemes does so not because he doesn’t trust his abilities, but because he has no faith in the organization’s powers. However, a strategist backed by absolute and unquestionable power can push forward openly and fairly and still achieve all of his objectives. Am I wrong, Cai Kechang!”

“...No, you are indeed correct, my liege.”

“Regain yourself, Cai Kechang!”

Cai Kechang’s figure flinched nastily as if a lightning bolt had struck him.

“I will not lose to anyone. Nothing can unsettle me now. I have surpassed myself and experienced a rebirth! All cultivators under the heavens will bow before me. All martial artists walking this earth will never dare speak of their martial paths in my presence!”

An incredible aura suddenly exploded forth from the Crimson King’s figure. This aura was as intense as a typhoon, yet it was also undeniably gentle. Truly an aura befitting a king!

‘He... has surpassed the wall!’

Of course Cai Kechang knew the reason for the Crimson King’s closed-door seclusion. That was because he had an epiphany from his battle against Kang Jin-Ho.

An expert on the level of the Crimson King latching on to even a hint of enlightenment was indescribably difficult. However, doing so wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Not always.

Historically speaking, just how many experts earned the enlightenment and tried to surpass the wall blocking them, only to fail and miserably fall?

Trying to reach a higher realm was akin to scaling a steep cliff with one’s bare hands. Successfully reaching the top meant one would become so much stronger. However, failure meant one would lose everything and fall into the abyss below.

Despite the risks, the Crimson King overcame them all and successfully climbed to a new realm of strength!

“My liege! My heartfelt congratulations on your achievement!”

“Mm!” The Crimson King heroically nodded. “Do not blame yourself, Cai Kechang. The failures of my subordinates are my failures. These events happened due to my weakness. However, no more! I have now acquired enough power to change the world! Whether my opponents are other Kings or Kang Jin-Ho, none shall defeat me!”

The Crimson King had not lost to Kang Jin-Ho. Technically speaking, their battle had ended in his victory. If the battle had gone on for a little longer, the one dying that day would’ve been Kang Jin-Ho.

Even then, the Crimson King willingly conceded defeat. To him, fighting tooth and nail against an opponent was the same as his defeat. That alone proved how lofty his self-esteem was. So lofty that it even sent a chill down Cai Kechang’s spine!

BOOM! BOOM!

The Crimson King climbed down the steps before his throne. His loud strides finally came to a stop in front of Cai Kechang’s kowtowing figure.

“From this moment on, I will need your true self. Your previous self, Cai Kechang.”

“...My liege!”

“Overcome your fear and observe your reality objectively. Comprehend the depths of my strength and engrave the truth deep into your soul! Only then will you see a brand new world, Cai Kechang!”

Cai Kechang did as told and stared directly into the Crimson King’s eyes. However, his liege remained unfathomable. Beyond Cai Kechang’s ability to measure or comprehend. All he could see was a gigantic mountain looming imposingly over him.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

“I have engraved the truth with my own eyes, my liege!”

“Good!”

An even more incredible aura flooded out from the Crimson King.

“A king is a man who constantly refines himself. And loyal retainers ensure their king remains on his throne! Cai Kechang, you shall now find ways to bring me the severed heads of our enemies! Our enemies are the three other Kings. The Azure King, the Dark King, and... the Demon King!”

Of course, the Demon King was none other than Kang Jin-Ho.

“I shall punish those who dare sow chaos in our world through their mischievousness. And I shall bring righteousness back to this world! I will no longer hesitate, Cai Kechang. I shall defeat them all and bring peace to our world!”

“My liege! Your wishes will surely come true!”

“

Hmm

!”

The Crimson King turned around, then leisurely headed to his throne.

Cai Kechang watched this sight as emotions of awe filled his heart to the brim.

‘This... This is what a true king looks like!’

The true majesty of the king could even reduce Cai Kechang, a man who wantonly manipulated the world as he saw fit, into just another old man who cried a lot. This was not something those who had not personally experienced it could ever understand.

How could someone who had never encountered a true king speak of what a king should be like?

“By the way...”

The Crimson King suddenly stopped walking and asked without turning around.

“Is Kang Jin-Ho unhurt?”

“...I was informed that he had been injured, but not to the point of inconveniencing him.”

“I see,” said the Crimson King, while nodding slightly.

That was when Cai Kechang figured something out.

‘So, he holds such significance?’

It seemed Kang Jin-Ho held much greater significance than the Azure King or the Dark King in the Crimson King’s mind. In terms of strength or the faction’s size, Kang Jin-Ho should be the weakest among the three, yet his existence meant more to the Crimson King.

In that case, what should Cai Kechang do?

“Oh, my liege!”

Cai Kechang planted his forehead on the floor again.

“Allow me to be bold and suggest that we should focus on dealing with the Azure King. However, if you wish, I shall...”

“You fool...”

The Crimson King dismissively waved his hand.

“How can a man who lets his emotions get the better of him speak of becoming a king? How can a man like that bring peace to this world? I wish to bring stability and order back to our world, not indulge in my personal grudges, Cai Kechang!”

“I have been foolish, my liege!”

Cai Kechang cried out while slamming his forehead on the floor again.

“Now, leave me! Your duty is now to ponder deeply and find a way to bring peace and stability to our world!”

“I shall obey!”

Cai Kechang crawled backward and exited the grand audience chamber.

Slam!

The impressive gate to the chamber closed shut, allowing Cai Kechang to suck in a deep breath. His whole body felt numb, while cold sweat soaked even his underclothes.

‘The Crimson King, my liege, has accomplished a monumental feat!’

This development would undoubtedly become a powerful blessing for the Crimson King’s faction. At the same time, it’d become the most terrifying calamity for its enemies. What was left now was to subjugate everyone under the Crimson King’s banner.

He was greatness itself. Unparalleled greatness!

While walking in the silent corridor, Cai Kechang subtly bit his lip. Was the Crimson King aware of it? That when he said they must discard all personal feelings, it also implied that his emotions toward Kang Jin-Ho were deeply personal?

Was he aware of that while giving Cai Kechang that command?

Whatever the answer was, it didn’t matter anymore.

The Crimson King, who had been still like the calm water deep below the surface, had finally made his move. The large ripples Kang Jin-Ho had created would soon become terrifying tsunami waves and crash into the unsuspecting world.

Who would survive as the tsunami waves crashed into them? Who would get swept away, never to be seen again?

Cai Kechang didn’t have an answer, but one thing still seemed sure. Regardless of what happened, the current martial world would no longer enjoy the same peace as before.

‘It’ll be the same story for you, Korean Martial Assembly!’

Also, Kang Jin-Ho!

In the end, things had ended exactly as Cai Kechang had predicted. The mere likes of the Japanese martial society were simply too inadequate to handle the might of the Korean Martial Assembly. There was no doubt that the only one strong enough to bring the Koreans down was the Crimson King’s faction.

Cai Kechang stopped walking and glanced behind him. He could see the impressive doorway leading to the Crimson King’s audience chamber.

He held absolute and unwavering faith in his king. However...

‘Well, there can be several kings.’

However, there could be only one Emperor under the heavens!

‘Until then, stay alive for a little while longer, Kang Jin-Ho!’

Because, the Crimson King will personally cut your head off!

The smirk on Cai Kechang’s lips disappeared as he stomped his way through the still corridor.