Chapter 1574: You Are Wrong

“So this is your objective. You wish to become the Human Sovereign of the current generation? The scale of your ambition is truly astounding!”

A long time later, the Chief Libationist finally spoke up, “For your so-called ambition, you will sacrifice hundreds of thousands of innocent Nanjiang lives? For your so-called accomplishment, you will subject millions of innocent people to unwarranted disasters?”

“A general is accomplished because he stood above a mountain of bones. A person who aims to achieve great things should not be bogged down by petty concerns. Tell me, what hero became a hero without leaving behind a river of blood? What conqueror rose to the heavens without stepping on a mountain of corpses?”

Emperor Jing Run declared vehemently and passionately, “If one hundred thousand lives is what it takes to exchange a thousand autumns of absolute hegemony, then why not? If millions of deaths is what it takes to establish the eternal age of Chu, then

why not?!

”

“Besides, I am not sacrificing the people of Chu. I am sacrificing the traitors and sinners of Nanjiang, and the barbarians and rebels of our opposing nations. If anything, it is their honor to become the stepping stone of the eternal Chu.”

“What do you say?”

“......”

“I see you all agree with me.”

Emperor Jing Run laughed when no one responded to his question before turning back to the Chief Libationist. “You too are a member of Chu, mister. Surely you think so as well?”

“This student understands that your compassion reaches all of the living, and your heart is big enough to fit the world, teacher. Soon, the age of chaos will arrive, and the entire world will plunge into chaos. It’s not just Chu, Yan, Qi and Wei who will suffer. When the old law and order are gone, many nations will no longer be nations, and everyone will be facing difficult times.”

“But if I can become the one master of the world, if I can wield the power of the Human Sovereign, then I can surely preserve the well-being of all people and bring peace to the world. Therefore, everything I did is for the sake of the people and all of the world.”

“You are a man of great wisdom, teacher. Surely you understand my efforts and wishes, right?”

Emperor Jing Run looked at the Chief Libationist with hopeful eyes. Before the teacher could speak, he bowed deeply and said, “This student sincerely asks you to lend me your guidance. With your help, I am sure that my plans will proceed flawlessly. When the time comes, we will both enjoy that age of eternal peace and prosperity together!”

“Will you help me, teacher?”

“Sigh... you truly are beyond hope and redemption.”

Looking at Emperor Jing Run’s fervent and expectant face, the Chief Libationist slowly shook his head. His disappointment and sorrow were palpable.

Emperor Jing Run’s eyes bulged as he exclaimed in disbelief, “You don’t agree, teacher? But why?” The Chief Libationist said heavily, “Because you are wrong.” Emperor Jing Run asked in confusion, “How am I wrong?” The Chief Libationist replied quietly, “The reason the Human Sovereign obtained the favor of the Heavenly Way and became the Human Sovereign isn’t because he slew the Impending Disaster. It is because of his love and benevolence for all of mankind and his willingness to protect them no matter his sacrifice.”

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

“The Impending Disaster is of no importance whatsoever. Even without the Impending Disaster, the Human Sovereign would have become the Human Sovereign and be respected by all. On the other hand, you have neither a benevolent heart nor the willingness to sacrifice yourself. Even if you could kill the Impending Disaster, even if you could kill a hundred more evils like it, you still wouldn’t become the Human Sovereign.”

“That is why you are wrong. You were wrong from the very beginning.”

Emperor Jing Run was speechless for a moment. Then, his face slowly turned contorted and angry. “Shut up! I’m not wrong,

you’re

wrong!”

“I thought you’re a man of great wisdom and courage, teacher. I thought you would be different from them. But now, I realize that you’re all the same. You’re just as pedantic, soft-hearted, and shortsighted as they are. You all don’t understand me.”

“Then again, what did I expect? What would an ant know about the ambitions of a swan?”

“Them?” The Chief Libationist realized something. “You mean Wan Bainian, Li Chengzhong and the others? I see now. You intentionally sent them away so that no one could stop you.”

Right now, Wan Bainian wasn’t the only one who was absent. The central pillars of Chu such as the Strategist-Generalissimo Li Chengzhong, the Grand Chief of the Pacification Bureau Yao Tianyi, and the Pacification King Chu Xunxian were all absent.

The Strategist-Generalissimo, Li Chengzhong, was currently guarding the borders in case the enemy decided to invade.

The Grand Chief of the Pacification Bureau, Yao Tianyi, was busy handling the Strangers and Anomalies plaguing the realm.

And the Pacification King, Chu Xunxian, was out in the Overseas searching for treasures that could stem the loss of Chu’s Will of the Empire.

Right now, one might say that the civil officials were missing their backbone, and the martial officers their gall. They were a pile of loose sand that Emperor Jing Run was free to shape as he pleased. Forget objecting to his actions, they didn’t even realize what was happening until now.

“Yes. I tried bringing up this idea one time, and they all objected to it saying that it went against the natural order, or that it was complete nonsense. Even my older brother could not understand me. What can I do?” Emperor Jing Run admitted to it. “Why keep them around if all they’re going to do is to add to my stress? So, I sent them all away.”

“I thought you would be different, teacher, but in the end, you’re just another ordinary person. What a shame!”

Shock and realization rippled across the ministers. No wonder Senior Grand Secretary Wan was sent away on official business despite being over a hundred years old. It wasn’t because Emperor Jing Run actually cared about the flood or the lives of the people. It was simply because he was afraid that Wan Bainian would get in his way.

The Chief Libationist sneered. “So sorry to disappoint you. If you’re that afraid, then why didn’t you send me away as well? Absolutely nothing could go wrong then, right?”

“I did think of it.” Emperor Jing Run actually admitted to it. “However, I already did it once, so you’re probably aware of my tricks. If I try it again, you will almost certainly suspect that something is amiss, so I chose to do nothing instead.”

The Chief Libationist let out a cold chuckle. “It’s also easier to keep an eye on me this way, right?”

“I had no choice. I ask for your forgiveness.” Emperor Jing Run performed a pretentious bow before asking curiously, “There is one thing I’m curious about though. It may be conceited of me to say this, but I am sure that my plan was flawless. How on earth did you discover this?”

“If you don’t want people to know about something, the best way is to not do it in the first place.”

The Chief Libationist did not plan to waste his breath on Emperor Jing Run about this. “Now then. How are you going to handle this, Jing Run?”

Emperor Jing Run looked at the Chief Libationist and stopped smiling. “Are you really going to stop me, teacher?”

When the Chief Libationist gave him no response, he looked to his ministers next and asked, “Will you stop me as well?”

A moment of silence later, the old minister who almost fainted before spoke up, “Your Holiness, this plan goes against the natural order. I beg that you think thrice before you commit to it.”

“Indeed. Chu is already tethering on the brink of collapse. It seriously cannot handle another risky decision like this. Please, stop this while you still can.”

“Your original aspiration is noble, but this plan is simply too unrealistic. It is best if you take things one step at a time and focus on what’s in front of you, Your Holiness! There is no need to look overly high to the heavens and miss the chasm beneath your feet!”

“Your Holiness, please think thrice...”

“Please, Your Holiness...”

The ministers all dropped to their knees and did their best to change Emperor Jing Run’s mind as well.

“Sigh...”

A moment later, Emperor Jing Run sighed with a forlorn expression. “It looks like no one understands me. Fine.”

“If neither my teacher nor my ministers agree with me, then so be it. I will stop here.”

“Your Holiness is wise!” The ministers immediately bowed to him again.