Chapter 655: Sophistry

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Yun Yang sn.i.g.g.e.red. "You admired us so much that you plotted to send us straight to h.e.l.l? Are you going to proclaim that you admired us, but you couldn't have us, so you decided to destroy us instead?"

Wu Ying answered seriously, "Not so. This lower official's thoughts and actions have been despicable and uncouth, and utterly overbearing at times, but I can still distinguish some things. The Nine Supremes Lords fought the world with all you had, bathed the battlefield in blood, for Yutang's citizens. All of you are the world's best men and I respect you from the bottom of my heart. This is without a doubt."

"The Nine Supremes Lords traveled thousands of miles to augment the war in the east of the river back in the day, fighting for four full days before finally defeating the enemy. This victory saved three hundred thousand men of Yutang from the ill fate of being tormented by the enemy. My people were part of those saved," Wu Ying spoke grimly, "Wu Ying has taken the Nine Supremes Lords as my savior, just for this truth alone. Now that I finally get to meet my savior, please accept my obeisance."

The moment he said it, Wu Ying pulled his gown aside to kneel down on the ground properly and bowed to Yun Yang.

Yun Yang was at a loss for words; he was truly stumped for a moment. He had no idea what to do or say. He had imagined countless rejoinders, but what was happening right before his eyes had never crossed his mind.

They were enemies who were irreconcilable. That their pleasantries consisted of praises for each other was not unusual – a civilized veneer could elevate their individual images, but was it not an exaggeration for Wu Ying to bow and debase himself in such a manner?

As Yun Yang was stunned, so was Wu Ying serious and grim. After three solemn bows, he stood up again to speak in a low tone, "Lord Supreme Cloud, please do not be taken aback by my actions. I, Wu Ying, came from Yutang – I was born and bred a Yutang man. I am still levelheaded about the rights and wrongs of cardinal issues like the country and its people!"

Yun Yang was still tongue-tied listening to him, thinking to himself, 'Levelheaded? You? Really? If you are truly so levelheaded, why are you still conspiring against the empire's guardians? Why are you trying to cause the empire to almost fall and its people to perish? Is this being levelheaded about cardinal issues?'

Wu Ying spoke calmly, "I can imagine what must be going through your mind, but there really isn't a need to say more about the so-called great truths. Everyone, no matter good or bad, knows the truths well. However, when one is faced with certain matters, people will always make different choices – these different choices will naturally develop into contrasting outcomes."

He lifted his head, the light in his eyes dancing eerily as he looked at Yun Yang.

"Many people opt to be ethical and n.o.ble, opt to serve the country patriotically, for loyalty and justice – such people are worthy of admiration. Nonetheless, there are also people who choose to be spared to tend to their personal wishes, who choose family… friends.h.i.+p, brotherhood, or even their own longevity. You can choose to look down on these people, and despise such choices. However, they have their grounds for making decisions like these – it's only a difference in opinion!"

"The only guilt that I bear towards the Nine Supremes Lords is a momentary lapse of judgment! When faced with such choices, I still opted for the narrow-minded and selfish one, despite knowing which choice was the righteous option. That's all there is to it."

Yun Yang could not help sneering, "What a feat to speak of treason so n.o.bly – a flitting lapse in judgment? Because of your momentary lapse in judgment, millions of brothers died in the battlefield! Because of your choice, millions of elders lived in misery – yet you can speak so blithely and with peace of mind. What a wonder!"

"Speak easily with peace of mind?" Wu Ying said, "Lord Supreme Cloud regards me too highly. Perhaps I can speak with ease, but I dare not a.s.sume the privilege of having peace of mind. Since I've ascended to this position, I have done everything carefully. My entire mind and heart are for Yutang, for the empire, for the world, for the people. I expend my abilities, spare no effort in my duties, am always on high alert for the slightest mistake – I do my part as a Yutang citizen."

"For so many years, any official business that went through my hands was crafted to perfection. Never were there any affairs, any part flawed. There was no oversight. Do you really think my only aim for doing so is to conceal my ident.i.ty, Lord Supreme Cloud? I'm sincerely serving my part as a Yutang citizen, doing what I can for the Empire of Yutang! This is what I should do – at the same time, it serves as a token of my compensation."

He spoke faintly, "I think, my many years of planning and strategizing, my many years of unreserved effort should have saved millions of people. Perhaps, it has even saved millions of comrades who should have died, many times over."

"Of course I know that plotting to kill the Nine Supremes would bring unimaginable consequences but I never regret my decisions once I've made them. I would find my own way to atone for my sins. I would even dare say that if it weren't for my strategies all these years, devising tactics for our many wars, the Empire of Yutang may not necessarily have lasted until the Nine Supremes' reemergence! Do you believe that, Lord Supreme Cloud?"

Yun Yang laughed, despite his rising fury. "Does it matter if I do? What does it matter if it's the truth? In your own words, what you've done is your duty as a Yutang citizen to his country, your job to Yutang's imperial court! As a man of Yutang, you should serve the people and country with all you have, publicly or personally, since you're receiving a salary for it. How can this then become an exchange for compensation?"

Wu Ying spoke with a serene mien, "Lord Supreme Cloud's rational thoughts suits most of Yutang's people. They can't, indeed – once they did, it would be a heinous sin. Still, I shouldn't belong to this category, for too many people are receiving the same stipend as I do, the same remuneration. Who, among Yutang's military, dares to say that they've done better than I did? Even if Old Marshal Qiu, Old Grand Commandant Fang, and the others were here, I would still dare to say this!"

"It would be hard for me to refute what you are saying, Marshal Wu. After all, I can't ignore my conscience and spew sophistry. Therefore, I conclude that Marshal Wu is very impressive indeed. I can't help but think, though, that no one in this world can do better than I did in certain aspects as well, according to your theory – does that mean I can act recklessly and destroy the world now?" Yun Yang said with a chuckle.

Wu Ying replied quietly, "It looks like Lord Supreme Cloud's interpretation of my argument lacks objectivity. I can only say that Lord Supreme Cloud is hardly similar to an insignificant man like me. My reason is but my excuse – because I need a plausible excuse to temporarily fool myself. Otherwise, the internal torment is enough to stop me from going on."

"With this excuse, at least I can feel that I still have a reason to keep on going, despite having made a grave mistake. After all, I have more boons than banes to Yutang – it's better to have me than not. While this is an illusion for me, it is Yutang's reality!"

"Is that not so, Lord Supreme Cloud?" asked Wu Ying.